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'1 

All or Nothing 

AFTER THE RUSSIAN OF 


Count Nepomuk Czapski. 

LLUSTRATED BY WALTER M. DUNK. 



No. 91. 


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A French Detective Novel. 


THE FROLER CASE. 

BY 

J. L. JACOLLIOT. 

Translated from the French by H. O. Cooke. 

ILLUSTRATED BY A. W. VAN DEUSEN. 

12xno. 230 Pages. Handsomely Botind in Cloth. Price, $1.00. 
Paper Cover, 60 Cents. 


This story is a characteristic French detective novel, equal to 
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the Parisian police, and the victim of the murder is at the head 
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page and chapter of the novel. There are no detective stories so 
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and exciting. 

For sale by all booksellers and newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, 
on receipt of price, by the publishers, 

ROBERT BONNER’S SONS, 

Cor. William and Spruce Streets, New York. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 



3 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Nooel 


AFTER THE RUSSIAN OF 



COUNT NEPOMUK CZAPSKI. 


< % 





BY 


META DE VERE. 

1 ‘ 


WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY WALTER M. DUNK. 


> 

) 

} > 3 

> > 
4 


NEW YORK; 

ROBERT BONNER’S 

PUBLISHERS. 



SONS, 


cy 


THE LEDGER LIBRARY: ISSUED SEMl-MO'iTMLY. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE. TWELVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM. NO- SI, 
AUGUST 16, 1898. ENTERED AT THE HEW YORK, N. Y., POST OFFICE AS SECOND CLASS MAIL MATTER. 


/S' 7 3 


A- 


C5' 


Copyright, 1893 , 

By ROBERT BONNER’S SONS. 


(All rights reserved.) 



ALL OR NOTHING. 


CHAPTER I. 

T was a lovely summer day in 1879, 
and the Czar’s residence in Mos- 
cow was resplendent in fresh 
^reen, the national color of Rus- 
sia. The sun was burning hot in 
the cloudless sky, sending the 
golden rays straight down upon 
the white-washed houses and the 
countless cupolas and churches, 
gorgeous in rich hues and dazzling gold. The 
“ White-Stoned Little Mother,” as the Russians 

[7] 



8 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


call the city in their familiar language, was a 
glowing oven. The people, however, did not seem 
to mind the heat: vast masses of all ages and all 
classes, were moving through the crowded 
streets towards the railway station of St. Nich- 
olas. Elegant carriages, with coachman and ser- 
vants in rich liveries, officers on horseback dash- 
ing along, and countless policemen, swearing and 
scolding, made a rich and animated scene. 

Near the Red Gate, where the crowd was 
densest, two young men were standing on the 
steps leading up to an unfinished building, and 
looked in silence at the steadily increasing num- 
ber of noisy, impatient people. One of the two — 
a small hollow-cheeked youth of barely nineteen, 
whose costume betrayed the student — was ner- 
vously chewing a half-consumed cigar, and re- 
peatedly looked up at his big, broad-shouldered 
companion, who wore the dress of a mechanic, 
with high boots. The latter, older than his 
friend, seemed not to notice this silent appeal ; 
he had taken off his plain, black cap, and was 
fixedly gazing at the crowd in the street. At 
last the younger of the two could stand it no 
longer ; he broke forth in a subdued voice : 
“ What is it, Sasha ? Are you dreaming ?” 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


9 


The tall man started, as if he had been roused 
from a light sleep ; dark shadows flitted across his 
face, full of manly beauty, and he answered in a 
whisper: “ I was wondering if this crowd would 
gather here as eagerly if, instead of a red-handed 
despot, one of us were expected to bring them 
the message of Freedom ? More likely he 
would be on his way to the gallows ! It cer- 
tainl}^ looks absurd,” he continued, passionately, 
“ to risk one’s life for people who push and crowd 
each other — it is really ridiculous — to catch a 
glimpse of their Czar. They are slaves, who 
feel not the chains they bear !” 

Alexander Michaelow, whom friends called 
Sasha, smiled at his companion’s wrath, and 
said : “ Let them, Stephan ; they will soon turn 
back, when they hear that the Czar does not stop 
here, but goes on.” 

“What! The Czar is going on ? The papers 
said this morning, he would stay here !” 

Sasha’s eyes rested for a moment on his 
friend’s face, and then he said lightly : He told 
me so, and you know He never errs. Come, we 
have much to do!” 

He put his cap on his head, went down the 
steps, and began to break his way through the 


10 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


crowd, which came in the opposite direction. 
Stephan threw away his cigar, and was about to 
join his friend, when two gendarmes came dash- 
ing down the street on horseback and called 
upon the police to clear the way. The people 
were instantly pushed on the sidewalks, and for 
a moment the multitude stood still. The two 
young men were wedged in-, and when the 
younger of the two tried to advance with a fierce 
curse, the other man held him back firmly, say- 
ing: 

“ No useless row ! We have every reason to 
avoid a disturbance !” He had hardly spoken 
when loud hurrahs announced the coming of 
some great man. 

This was the Governor-General, Prince Dol- 
gorucki, who galloped up, followed by his bril- 
liant suite. In spite of his short, stout figure, he 
sat his horse — a gray, well known all over Mos- 
cow — very well, and kindly nodded right and 
left. As the cavalcade passed the two young 
men, Stephan suddenly seized his friend’s arm 
and hastily murmured ; “ There he is ! He is in 
Moscow ! There, that officer of gendarmes on 
the black horse ! The blackguard ! What can 
he be doing here in Moscow ?” 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


11 


Sasha, apparently indifferent to his friend’s 
impassioned words, and not moving a muscle, 
carefully examined the great man’s retinue, and 
then asked without turning his head : “ Who is 
that ?” 

“ Likin !” hissed Stephan hoarsely, and his fiery 
eyes flashed lightning. “ 1 saw him at Kiew at 
his bloody work. He must scent new victims 
here, or he would not have come!” The young 
man ground his teeth and clenched his fists. 
“ Be still, little brother 1” Stephan said, gently ; 
“ he will meet with his reward I I have seen 
him now, and you know, if I once behold one of 
our enemies, I never forget him. But he has 
come to Moscow only because he was sent to 
inspect the measures taken to secure the Emper- 
or’s safety ; in a day or two he will return to 
St. Petersburg.” 

Stephan looked up amazed. “ Tell me, Sasha, 
how do you know that ?” 

“ He told me so in a letter,” was the short an- 
swer, and then he went on. 

The crowd was not quite as dense now as 
before, but the young men met another difficulty 
in their way. A poorly-dressed woman, who had 
stood not far from them, had sunk down faint- 


12 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


ing at the moment when the Governor dashed 
by. Sasha at once ran to her, calling out: “ Has 
anybody a little brand}^?” 

“ Here !” replied a deep bass voice, and a 
good-natured peasant handed him over the heads 
of the bystanders a large flask of schnaps. Ste- 
phan made the poor woman swallow a few drops, 
and soon saw his efforts crowned with success. 
She opened her eyes and looked around wildly ; 
then, as if finding out what had happened, she 
suddenly raised the young man’s hand, pressed 
it gratefully to her lips and slowly got up. 
Sasha aided her and asked her, in a voice full of 
tender concern, how she felt? 

“ I thank you!” stammered the poor woman. 
“ I am better now ! The heat — the crowd — I 
suddenly felt ill — ” She drew back a few steps 
and rested against the wall of a house. Sasha 
kept by her side, while Stephan was swept on by 
the torrent of people that were rushing by. 

“ May I go home with you ?” Sasha asked, ** or 
shall I go somewhere else with you? I hate to 
leave you alone in this uproar.” 

She blushed. I have no home,” she said 
after a pause, and then stopped again. “ I mean 
here in Moscow ; but I am better now ; I can go 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


13 


by myself. But — " she added timidly, looking 
up at the young man, “can you tell me perhaps 
who that officer of gendarmes was, on a fiery 
black horse, in the Goveiffior’s suite? I think I 
have met with him somewhere.” She paused and 
blushed crimson again. 

Michaelow’s face grew dark. “ That was Cap- 
tain Likin,” he said, and drew back, with a bow- 

At the same moment a whole crowd of noisy 
men and women of the lower classes pushed 
between him and the woman, and forced him 
into the street. Thus he failed to notice that 
the woman had started violently at the mention 
of that name, and had covered her face with 
both hands. He cared not to have anything 
more to do with her; her question had offended 
him he hardly knew why. “ Thus, are they all !” 
he said to himself. “ Every one of them ! Still 
half fainting, she has no other interest but to ask 
who that handsome fellow in the brilliant uni- 
form is! Fie!” 

Stephan had rejoined him, and now shook his 
head, and said : “ Sasha, I think this time you 

are wrong. I watched the woman carefully as 
you spoke to her, and I am sure I have seen that 
face before; in my childhood, and much finer 


14 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


and younger, of course, than to-day. But who 
she is and where I met her — that I cannot recall.” 

Michaelow had listened to his friend with deep 
interest, and hesitated for a moment; then he 
turned back to the place where the stranger had 
been, but she had vanished. Disappointed and 
out of humor he followed his companion. 

A few minutes later the St. Nicholas station 
presented a most picturesque and animated 
scene. A vast chain of soldiers surrounded it, 
while a countless multitude pressed upon them 
from all directions ; a few holders of special per- 
mits alone were admitted within the ring. The 
waiting-rooms and the verandas, covered with 
costly carpets, were crowded with ladies re- 
splendent with diamonds and with men in gor- 
geous uniforms ; most^of these people had not 
met for months and now greeted each other with 
many cries of surprise and eager inquiries as to 
the fate of common friends and absent kinsfolk. 
For some moments this lively interchange of 
kisses and embraces, of bows and courtesies, 
made it appear as if all had forgotten the pur- 
pose for which they had come. 

Suddenly, however, loud acclaims were heard, 
and a moment after, the Governor-General ap- 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


15 


peared, nodded here and shook hands there, and 
then was lost again in the Imperial apartments, 
before which two gigantic Life Guardsmen stood 
like statues cast in bronze. When he had con- 
vinced himself that all was in order to receive 
the Czar, he joined a group of eagerly conversing 
ladies on the veranda. A stately lady, past the 
four-score years, and wearing the star of St. 
Catharine on her left shoulder, called out to 
him : ‘‘ Ah, Prince, I am glad to see you ; tell me 
will His Majesty be here soon." The old warrior 
reverently kissed the still shapely hand, which 
she offered him, and then replied : “ In ten min- 
minutes. Princess Natalie Boripowna. His 
Majesty has just deigned to let me know by tele- 
gram from Ivver, that he will to be here pre- 
cisely at twelve-five, and continue his journey at 
twelve-twenty." 

“ What!" exclaimed the princess, and her face 
was overshadowed, “ the Czar will stay no 
longer in the first capital of his Empire ? I am 
sorry to hear that." 

“ Unfortunately^it must be so," answered the 
great man in his slow, meditative manner; “ but 
the Czar thinks, that on his return from Livadia, 
he will reside for some time in the Kreml." 


16 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


The face of the princess grew brighter again. 

Ah ! that is good news, Prince ; that delights 
me,” she said eagerly, and turning to her daugh- 
ter, she added : “ Ionia, do you hear ? the Czar 
will stay some time in Moscow in autumn.” 

Indeed!” answered the younger lady and 
drew nearer. Then we shall at last have a real 
saison once more! How hot it is to-day. Prince !” 
This she added, turning to the old Governor, 
from whose brow the big pearls of perspiration 
were coursing down into his beard. 

He only smiled, however, and then suddenly 
asked : “ When did you reach Moscow ?” 

“ Last night. Prince Michael said this was a 
day on which no loyal subject of His Majesty 
should be absent. Consequently we left Dulino 
at once and hurried down. It seems a great 
many have thought as we did.” She pointed 
with her sunshade at the immense crowd, by 
which they were surrounded. 

“ His Majesty will appreciate it,” observed 
Prince Dolgorucki. “ I hope 1 shall see Prince 
Michael also to-night at my house.” 

“Oh, certainly! We shall all be there,” 
replied the princess. “ What is the matter, Ma- 


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ALL OR NOTHING. 


17 


This was said to the old lady, because she had 
for some moments constantly looked through her 
lorgnon at an officer who was standing alone at 
the end of the veranda, haughtily and indiffer- 
ently examining the assembled company. She 
replied that her attention had been attracted by 
a face, which was very striking and yet quite 
new to her, then she asked : “ Whom have you 
there in your suite. Prince ?” 

Dolgorucki followed her glances and then 
answered : That is Gregory Petrowitch Likin, 
captain of gendarmes, who has been sent down 
by the Minister of the Interior to see that the 
road is all right.” 

“ What !” exclaimed the lively old lady, “ surely 
not that noble lieutenant of the Life Guards, who 
voluntarily left his highly privileged regiment 
in order to crush the hydra of Nihilism as a 
police-officer ?” 

“ The same.” 

What a handsome man ! Pray, have him 
presented to me; such men must be encouraged, 
to serve as models for our young men.” 

The old prince was on the point of fulfilling 
her wish, when an orderly approached, announc- 
ing that the Imperial train was nearing the city. 


18 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Dolgorucki bowed and excused himself on the 
plea of the exigencies of hisduty. “Go, Prince!” 
the old lady said most kindly, “ I shall wait for 
His Majesty at this place !” 

While the Governor, surrounded by his staff, 
walked rapidly down to the end of the veranda, 
a lively discussion arose in the little group of 
ladies. 

“ I cannot understand,” said Prince Peter 
Michaelowith, “ how Grandmaman can want that 
man ; he is none of ours !” 

“ Why not ?” asked the sister of the young 
lieutenant of Hussars, Anna Michaelowna, a 
tall, slender girl, with a pale complexion and 
reddish-brown hair, that in certain lights looked 
like pure gold ; “ that eagle nose and jet black 
beard are very becoming to Captain Likin, and 
a good officer is fit for any society.” 

“ He is not an officer, he is a policeman,” 
objected her brother. 

“ Oh, pshaw !” cried Anna. “ Once an officer, 
always an officer! I am very doubtful who is 
more useful to the State : an energetic officer of 
gendarmes, or a hussar-lieutenant who never 
smelled powder.” 

“ But Annushka,dear,” said the Princess Sonia. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


19 


“ Well, Maman, that is so. Our army officers 
are conceited enough already.’^ 

Peter grew angry, red in his face, and hardly 
able to cry out : “ What do you girls know of 

the code of honor among officers?” 

Anna was about to answer sharply, but the old 
lady stepped in again, saying : “ Never mind, 
Peter dear, this time Anna is right.” 

Prince Peter, whose little quarrels with his 
sister were daily occurrences, which nobody 
minded, was too well-bred not to obey his moth- 
er’s wishes, but to smoothe over his defeat he 
turned to a very pretty blonde cousin, with a 
charming turned-up nose, who still wore her hair 
in braids and had so far listened in silence. 

“Well, Henushka, what do you think?” he 
asked her. 

The full, rosy lips of the young girl trembled 
with mirth, and she replied, suppressing her 
laughter with difficulty : “ I am sorry, Petia, I 
cannot agree with you !” 

At this moment a shrill whistle was heard and 
instantly the Imperial coach rolled slowly into 
the station, and halted where the Governor and 
his staff were standing. The prince bared his 
head, the bystanders followed his example, and 


20 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


a thundering Hurrah ! arose as from one huge 
throat. Alexander appeared at the window of 
his coach, evidently pleasantly surprised at this 
reception, and kindly nodding right and left, 
while performing military salutations. Then 
the prince went in to the Czar, while from the 
city the Hurrah! of the Muscovites continued to 
thunder like an earthquake. Through the open 
window the spectators saw how the Czar met 
the gray-haired Governor-General near the 
middle of the coach, cordially stretching out 
both hands, and then embracing him on both 
cheeks, whereupon master and servant kept on 
a whispered conversation. 

“ Well, Wladimir Andryewitch,” said the 
Czar, “ what news from Livadia.” This was the 
prince’s residence. 

“ The princess is well. Your Majesty !” 

And the children ?” 

“ Are hearty and merry.” 

And whom have you here, at the station ?” 
the Emperor continued to ask. 

“ All Moscow, Sire ; there is not a man missing 
to welcome our Lord and Emperor !” 

The Czar looked pleased. Nev-ertheless 
he added severely: '‘You know, Wladimir 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


121 


Andryewitch, you know I do not like these cere- 
monial affairs !” 

“ They have all come of their own will, Sire !” 

“ And not at your order ?” the Emperor asked 
with a piercing look at the Governor. 

“ Without any orders or directions !” 

The Emperor’s eye shone brightly ; he was 
pleased. 

“ Give them the Czar’s thanks, Wladimir 
Andryewitch. Moscow has by this reception 
madp amends for many old sins, which I am^ 
willing to forget now.” 

1 thank Your Majesty for these words,” 
answered Prince Dolgorucki, speaking warmly. 
“ May I pray Your Majestry will take some 
refreshment in the station ? On the way, there 
is many a one standing, who would be made 
happy by a look from Your Majesty’s eye.” 

Alexander smiled and said : “ I will do as 
you wish, although I am very tired.” And with 
majestic steps, bearing his head on high, as if 
feeling himself lifted up above other mortals, he 
walked to the door, followed by his retinue. 

As he stepped out on the veranda, he was 
once more greeted by a grand Hurrah ! He 
paused a moment, glanced over the assembled 


22 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


multitude and slightly bowed right and left. 
When he saw the tall form of the old princess, 
who had stationed herself at the door of the 
reception-room, he hastened his steps and once 
more a pleased air lighted up his countenance. 
He approached her with almost youthful ease, 
seized her hand, touched it with his lips and 
then held it in his own. “ We have not met for 
a long time, Natalie Borissowna,” he said with 
his sonorous voice. “ I am heartily glad to see 
you and to find you looking so well.” 

The old lady’s tall figure seemed to grow, her 
snow-white head rose proudly, and she replied 
so loud that it resounded far and near : “ The 

Bogards of Moscow present your Majesty their 
best, most hearty good wishes. It is the happi- 
ness of m}^ old days to be allowed to welcome 
our Lord and Emperor in the city of the Czars 
of Holy Russia. May God bless your Imperial 
Majesty !” 

Gently she unclasped her hand and formed a 
cross over his head, while a tear shone in her 
eyes. 

The Czar was evidently moved. “ The Lord 
has led me by His hand ; He will do so here- 
after also, 1 trust !” Then he added, looking at 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


23 


the bystanders: “Are those your own, Natalie 
Borissowna ?” And without waiting for the 
answer, he took her arm and went with her, 
pleasantly chatting, into the reception-room. 

Only a few chosen ones were admitted, and 
while the Governor with his staff surrounded 
the Czar, the people on the veranda discussed the 
healthy look and affable ways of the Emperor. 
Among them there seemed to be but one mal- 
content, the nephew of the old princess. Lieu- 
tenant Prince Peter, who was incensed against 
his family on account of their censure, and now 
suffered anew on account of his cousin Plena. 
Since the Czar’s arrival she had been laughing 
and flirting with a number of young Life-Guard 
officers, as if he had not been ill-treated shame- 
fully ! He cast furious looks at her now and 
then, and declared in his heart that she was the 
wickedest and most ungrateful creature on earth. 
She did not deserve that anyone should trouble 
himself about her! To forsake him thus, when 
he would have braved death itself to gratify any 
one of her wishes ! “ But that is the way with 

all women !” he said to himself. “ No sooner do 
they see a new mask, than off they flit !” 

Suddenly all the people around him took their 


24 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


position, for the Emperor appeared in the door, 
ready to depart. He once more kissed the old 
lady’s hand and rapidly moving forward, re- 
peated a very friendly : Au revoirT' “ May 
God guide your Majestj^’s footsteps !” spoke the 
white-haired princess, and : “ May God guide 
your Majesty’s footsteps!” re-echoed through 
the vast multitude. 

The Czar, accompanied by Prince Dolgorucki, 
had entered his coach once more. A shrill 
whistle, a three-fold Hurrah ! and the train 
slowly began to move. And as the Emperor once 
more nodded kindly from his window, the thun- 
dering echo of the hundred thousands came 
back, who had in vain hoped to behold the coun- 
tenance of their ruler. 


CHAPTER II. 

The Governor-General’s palace was full of 
gay people in all kinds of costumes , and uni- 
forms, who chatted and laughed, teazing each 
other merrily or concealing under a playful 
mask some terrible passion. Although the open 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


25 


windows freely admitted the cool night air, the 
rooms were oppressive!}" hot, and the fans of the 
ladies and the handkerchiefs of the gentlemen 
did not rest for a moment. Our friend, the old 
princess, had seated herself with her friends at a 
small table, to have some refreshment^. Prince 
Dolgorucki was one of the number, and the con- 
versation had drifted into politics. The question 
arose if the whole Empire was really to be put 
under martial law, as rumor asserted ? 

“ That is true and not true,’' said the master of 
the house. “ The Emperor has divided the Em- 
pire into six governments, with a permanent 
court martial in each capital. A new law will^ 
besides, prohibit the sale of arms and of poison, 
and reform the passport regulations.” 

When someone complained of the hardship, 
the Princess Sonia said, shuddering : “ Ah ! these 
Nihilists are such terrible people. 1 never sleep 
a night when I am in Moscow.” 

“ ^\\y y Matnatiy there are no such revolution- 
ary people here in Moscow !” objected her 
daughter Anna. 

“ On the contrary, they say they find their 
way into the best society,” replied the Prin- 
cess Sonia, and looked anxiously around, as if 


26 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


afraid of suddenly finding- herself face to face 
with a Nihilist. 

“ I fear/’ added the Governor, sighing deeply, 
“ it will be harder than is generally thought, to 
restore peace and order in our dearly beloved 
Russia! We have led easy lives so long, that 
we fail to see the signs of trouble to come. I 
cannot resist the impression that the men and 
women who fight for their political and social 
views, a revolver in one hand and a dagger in 
the other, are only outposts in the war of the 
Old and the New. They are certainly not the 
only Nihilists in the Czar’s realm. The trialsin 
Kiew have brought to light strange things. 
Likin, who was present, has given me details 
that have appalled me.” 

“ Apropos, was not that the man you intended 
to present to me, Wladimir Andryewitch ?” 
asked the old lady. 

“ To be sure !” replied Dolgorucki. Will you 
see him now ?”. 

As the princess said, “ I pray !” he looked 
around the room and noticed Prince Peter 
in lively conversation with some ladies. He 
was about to beckon to him, when Plena left 
the group and came flying up to the old 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


27 


princess. In her light blue muslin dress, which a 
silver girdle fastened around her marvellously 
slender waist, she looked like a Forget-me-not, 
just gathered in a fresh, fragrant meadow. 
Prince Peter followed her eagerly, apparently 
to dissuade her from some mad prank. He had 
evidently forgotten the annoyance in the morn- 
ing, and with crimson cheeks and eyes flashing 
fire, he cried : “ Dear little Grandmarnany I am 
not to be blamed !” 

“ Do hot believe him !” interposed Plena. “ He 
is the very man who started it!” 

“ Well ? what is it, you stormy petrels ?” asked 
the white-haired princess. 

“We want to dance,” exploded Plena, and 
eagerly turned to the host. “ Pray, do not look 
angry, dear Prince ; this great and glorious 
event of to-day ought surely to be worthily cele- 
brated, and we shall have no other chance dur- 
ing the whole summer !” 

“ What an idea ! with this heat!” exclaimed 
the old lady. 

Their courteous host, however, was more 
leniently disposed. He said : “ Oh, let the 

children have their way. Princess ! Thirty 
years ago we did the same thing. I anticipated 
something of the kind and ordered a band of 


28 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


music to be at hand. What do you say — shall 
we begin and lead the polonaise ?” 

“ There you see, Petia !” laughed Plena ; did 
I not tell you so?” 

Peter looked all happiness ; but, alas ! suddenly 
the prince rose and ceremoniously addressed 
him thus: Lieutenant, I beg you will go in 
search of Captain Likin and bring him here.” 

The young man looked painfully embar- 
rassed ; he remembered the conversation at 
the station, and was by no means pleased 
with the duty of bringing the “ policeman ” to 
his family But he had to obey, and with a 
formal salute, turned on his heels to go through 
the long suite of rooms in search of the fortu- 
nate man. He was nowhere to be found, till 
at last Prince Peter went into the dining-room, 
where all the buffets seemed to have been thor- 
oughly exhausted, and here, in a cool niche, he 
saw his man in company with two officers of 
the Guards, all three pleasantly engaged in chat- 
ting and drinking champagne. 

“ His Highness, Prince Wladimer Andryewitch 
Dolgorucki requires your presence,” he reported 
formally. 

Likin rose, and looking sharply into the face of 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


29 


the messenger, asked in his sonorous, pleasant 
voice : 

“ With whom have I the honor?” 

** Prince Peter Michaelowitch, lieutenant in 
the Fifth Hussars of the Guard,” replied the 
young man. 

“ This is not the first time we meet, Prince,” 
said Likin, smiling, “ and I hope it will not be 
the last. Pardon me, gentleman !” With these 
words he saluted and followed Peter, who 
detained him a moment to do the honors of the 
house to the two men from St. Petersburg, and 
to take them with him to his own people. 

When Likin entered the great hall, which in 
the meantime had been once more filled by the 
general company, the conversation had acci- 
dently stopped for a moment, and hence all eyes 
turned to the newcomer, whose fine, powerful 
frame appeared to great advantage in his becom- 
ing light-blue uniform with silver braid and 
epaulets, while his finely cut features and the 
fire in his eye betrayed the man of bold enter- 
prise, tempered by cautious prudence. People 
whispered and questioned, but as no answer 
came, the usual loud exchange of words and 
compliments resumed its sway, and the young 


30 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


man with the romantic career walked straight 
up to the Governor and presented himself with 
becoming modesty. 

“Your Highness has commanded me?” he 
asked, and the old prince advanced, took him 
by the hand, and said : 

“ I sent for you because my honored friend, 
the Princess Natalie Borissowna, desires to make 
your acquaintance.” Then, turning to the lady 
herself, he added: “This, Princess, is the man 
whom the Nihilists dread most.” 

Likin advanced a step, bowed with perfect 
elegance, and reverently kissed the hand which 
she offered him. “ I fully appreciate the honor,” 
he said, “ of being presented to the Lady-Patriarch 
of Moscow.” 

A pleased smile illumined the white-haired 
lady’s face. “ Take a seat here,” she said. “ I 
want you to tell me many things. First of all : 
Do you not at times regret having exchanged 
the Life Guards for the Corps of Gendarmes ?” 

Likin, who had bowed and taken a seat near 
the princess, shook his head and said : “ Steps 
which have been carefully weighed before they 
are taken are rarely regretted. I was convinced 
that this change would enable me to do the 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


31 


State more efficient service than before ; and I 
venture to think that the result has justified my 
expectations.” 

The old lady bowed, saying : The old story 
of the right man in the right place. You were 
not deterred then by the many attacks which 
have been recently made upon officers who have 
been specially active in the pursuit of Nihilists?” 

“ Not every dagger kills, Princess. And the 
revolver trembles in the hands of criminals.” 

“ Pardon me,” Princess Sonia here broke in. 
“ Have you ever personally encountered Nihil- 
ists ?” 

“Often enough, Princess,” answered Likin, 
and his lips quivered in a peculiar manner. 
“ The last time in Kiew, where I caught a whole 
nest of conspirators.” 

“ Oh, how interesting !” cried many bystanders. 
“ Tell us — tell us,, pray !” 

Likin threw himself back, drew his jet black 
mustaches through his fingers, and began : 
“ General Drentelen had sent me to Kiew, and I 
had been there some months, when I found out 
that on a certain night a meeting of revolution- 
ary young men would be held in the house of a 
widow. I determined to catch them all ; and as 


32 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


I had already caught several members, I hoped 
to make an end to this branch, at least. It was 
a wet, cold evening in February, when I sur- 
rounded the widow’s house with a ring formed 
by my men. I kept two gendarmes only near 
me, and hoped the meeting would be complete 
at this hour. I was mistaken, however, for just 
as it struck ten, my eyes, used to pierce the 
blackest darkness, discerned five men, who came 
very slowly nearer and nearer. They might be 
members who were late, and their arrest in the 
street might give the alarm and warn those in the 
house. Quickly resolved, 1 made a sign to my 
two gendarmes to follow me, and drawing my 
cloak closer around me, I went to meet the late- 
comers. I soon saw that only two were men, 
the others women, but their faces I could not dis- 
tinguish. I went up to one of the men and asked 
for a match. ‘ I regret I do not smoke !’ was the 
answer. I knew the voice. It belonged to a Pole 
whom I had long tried to catch. Without a mo- 
ment’s hesitation I dropped my cloak and threw 
it over the man’s head, so that it must needs 
smother any noise he might endeavor to make. 
At the same time I drew my revolver and pointed 
it at the head of his companion. ‘ Not a sound !’ 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


33 


I whispered into his ear, ‘or you are dead men ! 
The two gendarmes had drawn their swords and 
threatened in like manner the three women. The 
surprise was a perfect success. I hailed a patrol 
of the police that were passing by, and giving 
them orders what to do, I handed my two pris- 
oners over to their keeping. It turned out after- 
wards that they were two of the most dangerous 
Nihilists. This was, however, not yet the last of 
the events of that evening. As I returned to my 
soldiers, who were completely concealed by the 
dark shadows of the houses, I noticed a tall, slen- 
der man leaving the surrounded house, looking 
around timidly, and then coming straight up to 
me. I made the gendarmes stand aside, and 
went to meet the stranger. We almost knocked 
against each other and instantly recognized the 
one the other. He was a most prominent social- 
ist and a very dangerous man. ‘ Are you again 
acting the spy, you rascal!’ he cried, and quick 
as lightning drew a revolver from his pocket. 

“I tried to disarm him, but failed. He fired and 
the ball whistled close by my ear. I knocked 
him down and ordered the gendarmes who ran 
up to me, to bind him and to put a gag in his 
mouth. Then we dragged him to the nearest 


34 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


house, where I left him lying for tlie present, as 
1 could not spare any of my men. Now tlie point 
was to act promptly. Of course, they must have 
heard the firing, and in the neighboring houses 
windows were opened and curious faces ap- 
peared. Unfortunately the house was so situated 
that we could approach it from the sides only; 
from the street and from the court-yard behind, 
men could easily escape through an old, open 
barn that adjoined -the rear ; on the other hand, 
they might fight, if forewarned. 

“ I sent the two gendarmes into the yard behind 
the house, and then told ten of my men, with 
their bayonets fastened to their rifles, to follow 
me. Then I entered the house. All was still. 
The widow’s own rooms I knew were in the 
second story at the end of a corridor; they con- 
sisted of a large room and a small bed-chamber ; 
both were accessible only from the corridor. As 
I approached this door I heard loud talking and 
laughing. Evidently they were all still there. 
1 heard the soldiers come up the stairs, and 
lightly seized the door-handle. There was no 
lock on the door and I opened it easily. At the 
noise this made, all the persons present, men and 
women, some twenty in number, jumped up and 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


35 


ran about, helplessly crying. I stepped into the 
middle of the room, and said aloud : ‘ In the 

name of the Czar, you are my prisoners !* A 
young, pock-marked fellow in peasant’s dress, 
was about to attack me, but the others held him 
back. Gradually all became quiet, and the 
widow, as landlady, came up to me and asked 
me sarcastically, what 1 desired. 

“ ‘ You will hear that from the Judge,’ 1 re- 
plied. In the meantime my soldiers had entered 
also. A student asked : ‘ What is the meaning 
of this ?’ One of the men next came forward 
and said contemptuously : ‘ Captain Likin is 
playing at war ; he takes fortresses !’ They all 
laughed ironically. 1 remained calm, and enter- 
ing into the jest, I said : ‘ You have been taken 
by assault; follow me willingly!’ They made 
no resistance, were searched, and carried off to 
prison.” 

Likin ended here and attentively watched his 
listeners, assuming a peculiar, searching look in 
his eyes. The little company had listened so in- 
tently, that they now breathed more freely. 

“ And what became of your prisoners ? ’ asked 
one of the hearers. 

Likin raised his hand and protected his eyes, 


36 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


as if the brilliant light of the room were too 
much for them ; then he replied with a little 
hoarseness in his sonorous voice: “ Seven were 
hanged, the others are on the road to Siberia !” 

All were silent. Plena alone said in a whisper: 
“I should like to see one of those Nihilists!” 
Whereupon the Princess Sonia exclaimed : “ Oh, 
Flenushka, what a wish 1” The gentlemen, how- 
ever, all laughed, and Prince Peter, who had 
followed Plena like her own shadow, promised 
her he would not rest till he had presented one 
of them to his dear cousin. 

At this moment a loud fanfare proclaimed the 
readiness of the music-corps of the Hussars to 
begin the ball, and instantly the whole assem- 
bly scattered like a flock of sheep attacked by 
wolves. The older guests of both sexes with- 
drew into the window-embrasures and against 
the walls. When all had settled into their 
places, and the floor-manager had given the 
preconcerted signal, the Governor-General ap- 
proached the Princess Sonia, and with a cour- 
teous bow, offered his hand to her to lead the 
polonaise. 

Likin had been pushed aside till he found him- 
self between the old Princess Natalie Borissowna 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


37 


and her grand-daughter, Anna. Suddenly the 
old lady turned to him with the words : 

“ Do you dance ?” 

1 have been an officer in His Majesty’s Life- 
Guards !” 

“ Then you dance, of course 1” she said merrily. 
“ Well, then, engage my grandchild ! Annushka ! 
the captain wishes to dance the polonaise with 
you !” 

Likin’s and Anna’s eyes met, and for an instant 
rested firmly upon each other ; then she cast 
down her eyes and blushed lightly. “ I should 
not have dared,” said Likin, with a profound 
bow, “to ask for the first dance, as you probably 
had promised it already, but if you will do me 
the honor, I shall be deeply grateful for your 
compliance with your grandmother’s wish!” 

“ You are the first,” Anna quietly said. “ I 
am ready,” she added, putting her arm in his. 

A new signal was given. All the pairs being 
in position, the musicians began the polonaise 
proper, and the dance began, with the Governor- 
General at the head. Peter danced, of course, 
only with Plena. His eyes glowed with heat and 
festive joy ; he often pressed his partner more 


38 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


closely to his breast than seemed necessary. 
“ You hurt me, Petia !” she said. 

“ That is your punishment for treating me so 
badly, to-day ! I nearly killed Flora, before I 
could calm down again. What have J done to you, 
that you should treat me so harshly, so differ- 
ently from formerly.?. You say I look odd ! I 
dare say, because for some time I have become 
so sad and discontented, that I can hardly bear 
life ; and then again, I get to be so merry, I could 
stand on my head and dance with my legs in the 
air. I wish I knew what is the matter with me!” 

Plena looked anxiously at him. “ 1 hope you 
are not going to be sick, Petia 

“I believe I am sick!” he answered, curtly. 
Then he added : “ Do you know, Flenushka, I 
am jealous !” 

A slight blush flew over her brow and neck; 
she opened and closed her fan violently, and then 
she answered almost disdainfully : “Ah, Peter, 
that is nonsense ! You must mend your ways, 
Peter ! I tell you so in good earnest !” 

“ It is too late !” said Peter, sighing, and let 
her arm go. When the two were once more 
together in the various combinations of the 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


39 


dance, he asked Plena : “ You will surely dance 
the mazurka with me ?” 

“How can I help myself?” she replied, in 
laughable despair, “ but with one condition !” 

“ And that is ?” 

“ That you do not draw down the corners of 
the mouth, as you do now, and that you are less 
violent. Will you promise ?” 

“ Only if you promise to choose me every 
time you have a chance !” 

Flenushka laughed aloud and said : “ What 
modesty!” while Peter’s joyous eyes followed 
her graceful form in the mazes of the dance. 

Captain Likin, also, was in the best humor; he 
could not have been introduced into Mosco- 
vite society under better auspices than Chance 
provided. Besides, as he glanced at his silent 
partner, he could not help noticing that she was 
extremely pretty, and when he tried to fathom 
the depths of her black orbs, he fancied he was 
gazing into an unfathomable abyss, full of mystic 
powers and matchless attractions. He could 
not, he thought, begin an ordinary conversation 
with such a superior being, and thus both re- 
mained silent. “ Certainly, Princess,” he said at 


40 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


last, “ we can never leave the surface of life with 
impunity, to fathom its depths.” 

‘‘True, but only when we remain caught 
below. The wise man does like the eagle, who 
finds his prey in the lowest valleys, but ever 
rises again to bathe in the golden light of the 
sun.” 

“ The eagle ! Ah ! If I were an eagle !” 

“And who tells you that 1 am formed on the 
surface only?” She raised her eyes to his, as 
she said this, and he thought in his heart, that 
flashes of lightning were coming up from the 
black, mysterious abyss. 

“ I did not mean that !” Likin said quickly. 
“ There are people who are privileged to see 
nothing but the sunny surface of life. I have 
given that up ; but you, who are young and fair 
among ten thousand — who would dare assign 
you any other place, than one among the ever- 
happy children of the sun ?” 

“ I myself !” she answered, and Likin felt her 
arm tremble in his. “ I myself,” she repeated, 
“ if the reward was worth the sacrifice !” 

Here the rules of the dance forced them to part 
for a time. Likin looked after her with deep 
interest. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


41 


She is as brilliant in mind as in beauty,” he 
said to himself ; “ a breast full of slumbering 
demons.” He felt as he' had never yet felt in 
his life, when he saw the tall, erect figure with 
the clearly cut, small head, suddenly come forth 
out of the crowd and approach him. A moment- 
ary inspiration prompted him to seize her 
hand and to ask her to dance the mazurka with 
him, “for, led by your hand, I feel 1 shall find 
the way back again from the lowest depths !” 

She did not withdraw her left hand, only let- 
ting her golden-brown lashes conceal her lovely 
eyes and, as Likin led her on, she said in a low 
voice : “ I will dance the mazurka with you, but 
you owe me a word of description. 1 want to 
know how things look in those lower regions, 
where your ambition is seeking its reward !” 


CHAPTER III. 

It was nearly three o’clock before the Dol- 
gorucki Palace began to empty itself. The ser- 
vants were hurrying to and fro, some with 
cloaks and wraps on their arms, others ready to 
call the carriages of departing guests. One of 


42 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


the first to leave the palace was Captain Likin, 
on whose memory the sounds of the final ma- 
zurka were dwelling still very clearly. He had 
thrown a light gray dust-cloak over his uniform, 
and drank in the cool morning air with great' 
delight. The gas-lamps were dark and the 
morning as yet but dawning ; still he preferred 
walking to the barracks of the Gendarmes, 
where he had rooms. 

He had gone to this ball more as a matter of 
duty than for pleasure, and now he had lived 
hours which had made a lasting impression and 
would alter the whole course of his life. His 
vanity was flattered by his rapid success with 
the Muscovite aristocracy, generally so difficult 
of access to men of his origin and soeial position. 
But far more important was his meeting with the 
Princess Anna. This girl, with the jet-black eyes 
and the golden-brown hair, had aroused his 
heart to new life and new sentiments, such as he 
had thought dead and forgotten years ago. He 
had danced the mazurka with her; half an hour, 
he fancied, but in reality two hours. Thus time 
had fled ! He felt that it was not her beauty 
and her grace — great as they were — that had 
conquered his proud heart, but rather the won- 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


43 


clrous depth of her thoughts, and the uncon- 
scious, passionate animation which broke forth 
from every word, every gesture. He would not 
confess to himself what nevertheless was true, 
that her unmistakable interest in Jiis person and 
in his fate had contributed largely to his own 
subjection. 

Without trying to analyze these feelings, he 
gave himself up without resistance to these new 
sensations, only anxious to recall and retrace the 
image of his partner, and the details of their 
conversation. Should he see her again? Or had 
he better close the chapter here and be con- 
tent with sweet memories ? The old princess 
had asked him to call the next day, and the 
prince had, with his stereotyped smile, added 
that if the captain’s duties ever led him to the 
neighborhood of his estates, he would like to 
show him that he was a welcome guest there 
also. 

Well, Fate had met him kindly, bestowing rich 
gifts upon him, and foolish would bediis ingrati- 
tude, he told himself, if he did not improve the 
offered opportunities. 

Naturally Captain Likin, absorbed in these 
thoughts, had paid but little attention to his sur- 


44 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


roundings, and thus he found suddenly that he 
had left the quiet streets behind him, and was 
now in an old and dismal part of the town. On 
the right tall buildings stood in serried ranks, 
while on the other side nothing was seen but the 
high wall that surrounds the Gendarmes’ bar- 
racks. A few hundred yards, and he would be 
at the iron gate, behind which the vast edifice 
arose. He shivered with cold and drew his thin 
cloak tighter around him, when all of a sudden a 
woman’s form, wrapped in a macintosh, stepped 
forth from the shadow of the wall and came 
towards him. Likin instinctively grasped his 
sword and stopped. The person approached. 

“Never mind your sword, Grisha, it is 1 !” 
said a low voice, trembling with joy and woe. 

The unknown threw her hood back, and Likin, 
who had eagerly bent forward, started back in 
consternation. 

“Marja !” he cried, “ Marja Antonowna, is it 
really you ?” 

“ Do you recognize me, Grisha ?” asked the 
woman, and her lips quivered with exciteanent ; 
“recognize me in spite of the ten years of suffer- 
ing and sorrow that I have lived since you saw 
my eyes last ! At last 1 have won you back ! I 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


45 


hold you once more and you recognize me, 
although you have become a great man?” 

It was difficult to say whether woe or joy 
prevailed in the woman’s voice. Likin had 
recovered his equanimity. 

“ I am surprised and pained to meet you here 
and at such an hour,” he said very gently ; “ I 
thought of you far away, on the banks of the 
Volga, at home, in the village of your parents, 
happy and contented !” 

She smiled sadly. “ Happy and contented, 
without you ? Have you forgotten how often 1 
swore, Ijdng on your heart, that I loved you 
unto death ? When you left for St. Petersburg, 
my happiness also left me ; I sat and wept and 
waited for )"ou to return. You never came ! 
Mother died and father took a second wife. So 
far he only had beaten and ill-treated me ; now 
there were two who hated me. What was left 
for me, but to run away in search of you?” 

Passionately she stepped up to him, seized his 
hands and added : “ Now that I have at last 

found you, no power on earth shall ever drive 
me from you again !” She leant her head on his 
shoulder. As he remained silent, she started, 
threw back her head and fixed her brown, wide- 


46 


ALL OR NOTHlNO. 


open eyes upon his face. “ You will not drive 
me from you, Grisha !" she asked in a tremor. 
“ Grisha, do you not love me any more ?" 

What a world of fear and hope there spoke 
in that outcry ! Likin looked solemnly down 
upon Marja ; then he stroked her hair with ten- 
der pity and whispered : “ Poor woman !” 

But Marja tore herself away, rose to her full 
height and called out: “Poor! why should 
you call me poor? I have been poor, these ten 
years, but now, I am rich, or ” — here she paused 
in fearful anguish, turning deadly pale — “ or do 
you mean to tell me that you cast me off? 
Answer, Grisha ! Cannot everything be again 
as it was ?” 

Oh! the anguish in her face ! It was Death 
or Life to her, whatever he might say. 

He looked sorrowfully at the poor woman ; 
there was evidently a fearful struggle going on 
within him. At last he said firmly but kindly : 
“ Impossible, Marja Antonowna ! Our ways have 
gone too far apart, ever to reunite. Life has 
parted us. We can do nothing where Fate 
decides !” 

She had heard but one word : “ Impossible !" 

She tottered a step or two aside, then she felt 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


i7 

as if all were black before her eyes, her head 
swam ; she grasped the air with uplifted hands, 
and sank against the wall. 

Likin approached her and tried to support her, 
but the touch of his hand revived her. She 
instantly pushed him back, drew herself up and 
cried out wildly : “ Go ! you are a perjured 

blackguard !” 

Her white, lean hands rose in blind defiance. 
The captain bit his lips and a glance of dark fire 
flashed from under his closed eyelids. Sympa- 
thy, however, got the better of wrath, and he 
said gently : “ Control yourself, Marja ; I will 
not have heard what you said just now. Let us 
part as friends. If 1 cannot offer you all that you 
would wish, we can at least remain good friends.” 

Then, as Marja was too exhausted, too much 
overcome by her pitiful fate in the moment of 
joyful reunion, he continued impressively : 
“ Look, Marja. I loved you when we were chil- 
dren, when the waking heart of my youth loved 
the first girlish bud that it met. We were both 
children, and we are alone; Naturally, as our 
hearts matured, they belonged to each other. 
Then I entered life and endured what 1 had 
never suspected to exist. I struggled with dire 


48 * 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


necessity, its treatment, bitterest disappointment. 
But I defied Fate ; 1 combated Fate, and 1 was 
successful. The humiliations which 1 had to 
suffer in my rich uncle’s house in St. Petersburg 
were the rungs ol the ladder on which I pain” 
fully climbed up, to earn some reward of my 
ambition and restless activity. Ever^^vhere, in 
the School of Cadets, in the Life Guards, and 
now in the Gendarmes, I was promptly the first 
among all my rivals. And now, when at last I 
could once more breathe freely, years had gone 
over me, and I had become another man. My 
old self was entirely gone ; the inexperienced 
youth was now a man who had learnt without 
mercy to bury the wishes of his heart, and to 
covet but one thing in life : freedom, wealth and 
power. I drove out of my heart all, all that 
could possibly stand in my way, while aspiring 
to the highest reward that life can give. Now 
it is too late — no return is possible ! 

“ Nor is this my fault, Marja. 1 thought of 
you with tenderness and love as long as my 
heart had the right to speak. When my heart 
died, ni}^ love also died. 1 did not wish to sad- 
den you, though I never thought you would take 
our childish love in earnest. You live and still 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


49 


live in my memory as the one sweet feature in 
the bygone days of pure happiness. Why will 
you darken this memory? Why ask for more 
then I can give ? I will be a brother to you, 
care ior you, watch over you, love you — like a 
brother !” 

He had spoken warmly and quickly. Now he 
took her hand, looked affectionately and anx- 
iously into her eyes, and said, in the most cor- 
dial manner : 

“ Poor Marja ! How sad you look ! I pity 
you — but 1 cannot do otherwise !” 

Marja breathed heavily. “ You told me 1 was 
‘all in all to you !’ You swore to be faithful to 
me ! That was my one only hope in life !” 

“ The passion has ceased to burn, but the faith 
I mean to keep; the faith of true, unselfish friend- 
ship !’ 

But the poor woman could not so promptly 
surrender all; she tore her hand out of his, and 
cried out, wildly : “ No, no! You lie now as you 
lied then !” 

With these words she tried to escape from 
Likin. He, however, stood in her way, and said, 
almost rudely: “No, I cannot let you go thus! 
Say, that yo \4 are not angry !“ 


50 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Marja’s eyes flashed with unnatural fire ; she 
spoke as in high fever: “ I am not angry, Greg- 
ory Petrowitch. I know no one can be forced to 
love ! I have deceived myself — why should I 
blame you ?” and then, with a loud, bitter laugh, 
she continued, “ you shall not be troubled by me 
any further! Give me time to realize facts. 
Farewell — be happy !” She went off with firm 
steps, but almost passionately waved him back, 
as he tried to follow her. 

The captain of gendarmes remained some time- 
standing on the same spot, deep in thought. He 
murmured against Fate, that had compelled him 
thus, as he called it, to settle accounts with past 
folly. Then he wrapped himself in his cloak and 
quickly went to his rooms, where he found his 
old servant, Ivan, sitting up for him. “Ivan!” 
he said to the man, and his voice sounded hoarse, 
“as soon as day breaks you will go to police 
headquarters, and request the officer on duty in 
my name, to send me immediately the address 
of Marja Antonowna Plevanko!” 

“ Yes, Captain !” replied the servant, looking 
amazed at his master, and then murmuring: 
“ This is the first time in all his mysterious 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


61 


orders, that the captain inquires after a woman; 
and she an old acquaintance !” 

Marja, after leaving the sad scene of her dis- 
comfiture, had almost run, as if pursued by ene- 
mies, to the “ Convent of Grief.” The cloudless 
sky looked as if steeped in blood. The sun had 
just risen and was sending its golden rays against 
the dim, gray mists, which slowly rose from the 
ocean of houses to the sky above. The white- 
roofed cupolas and towers and turrets of the 
Convent of Grief shone like liquid silver, and 
seemed to be suspended in the air, since the yel- 
low buildings below were still invisible in the 
dense fog. 

Marja listened, breathless, at the door of the 
Convent, but there were no steps following her — 
all around silence reigned supreme. The terri- 
ble excitement subsided, the reaction set in, and 
she tottered toward a bench which stood close 
by the Convent under a tree. Here she sank 
down, and hiding her face in her hands, she 
exclaimed: “Oh, Holy Mother of God! what 
have I done to Thee that Thou chastisest me 
so severely ?” 

She twisted and wrung her hands; then again 
she began to sob bitterly, till at last a torrent of 


52 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


tears afforded her relief, and calmed her passion- 
ate grief. Half an hour went by, when suddenly 
quick steps were heard approaching on the boul- 
evard. She did not wish to be seen at this hour, 
in such a place, and rose, as she saw two men 
approaching the place, where she had been sit- 
ting. But she had attempted too much ; she was 
far weaker than she fancied ; and after a few 
steps she felt giddy and had to lean against a 
tree to keep from falling. Anxiously she looked 
at the two men, who were now quite near, and to 
her intense joy she recognized in one of them 
the blonde workman who had assisted her so 
courteously on the day before. At once she felt 
as if now she were in safety. 

The two companions were indeed Alexander 
Michaelow and Stephan Turin, bent on some 
mysterious errand, and both had at the same 
time recognized the poor, exhausted woman, who 
could hardly stand upright. 

Stephan observed maliciously: ‘‘A sick 
woman, Sasha ! You can play the Good Samari- 
tan once more !” 

His friend looked at him almost angrily, but 
said nothing ; he went up to Marja, and when he 
had looked at her face, started back in amaze- 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


53 


ment. In a strange, half angry and half pitiful 
tone, he said : “You seem to be unwell ; can I 
be useful to you ?’’ 

Marja opened lier eyes and seized the offered 
arm. “ Pray take me back to the bench !” she 
said feebly. Then she added with a painful 
smile : “ I recognized you at once. God has 

sent you a second time to me in my hour of 
weakness — how can I thank you ?” 

“ By sparing yourself, and staying at home 
when your strength is not sufficient for such 
efforts !” 

Then Michaelovv enabled her to reach the 
bench again. She blushed slightly as Stephan 
also drew near and recognized her at once. 
“ How strangely she crosses our road he ex- 
claimed. 

Marja, seated once more on the bench, looked 
timidly at the student, whom she thought she 
knew, and at his pale, nervously agitated feat- 
ures, till she suddenly cried out, as if inspired: 
“ Stephan Alexejewitch !” and tried to rise. 

The young man shook with fear, and asked: 
“ How do you know my name? Your face looks 
familiar to me, and yet — ” 

Marja seemed to be endowed with new life ; 


54 


ALL OR KOTHING. 


she sat up straight, and a joyous illumination 
gave new beauty to her small countenance. 
“ Think of your home, son of the blacksmith 
Turin, think of Muzalino on the Volga! I am 
Marja Antonowna — ” 

“ Plevanko !” replied the young man, as he 
recognized Marja. “ 1 remember you now, but 
you have changed much.” 

“ I have grown old and am tired unto death,” 
she replied sadly. “ And Little Stephan, whose 
pale, sober face puzzled the whole village, has 
become a man !” 

She tried to smile, and then painfully recalled 
old stories ; how the student’s father was ar- 
rested, because he had slain an impudent police- 
man, who tried to tempt his wife, with his heavy 
blacksmith’s hammer; how he, the pale weakly 
youth, had resisted the gendarmes, till they had 
knocked him senseless; how his father had been 
carried off in chains, his mother had died from 
terror, and he himself had disappeared, no one 
knew whither. 

The young man listened grinding his teeth 
with rage; he groaned inwardly and at last, 
mastering the pain, he said : “ Yes, 1 ran off into 
the wide, wide world, to become a man, and — to 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


55 


avenge myself! My parents’ murderers shall 
pay for it ; the hour of revenge is at hand !” 

Alexander, who had sat down on the bench 
near Marja, watched the two with growing ex- 
citement. Now he looked at Marja with pierc- 
ing glances, and asked her : “ Are you one of us, 
girl? ‘Our Country and Freedom’ is our 
motto.” 

She bore the Nihilist’s look calmly, shook her 
head and answered slowly : “ 1 do not know what 
you mean ; but I owe you thanks for your as- 
sistance, and I cannot better express it, than by 
telling you briefly my story : ‘ I am the daugh- 
ter of the Steward of Muralino, Stephan’s native 
village ; my father was a drunkard and compelled 
my mother to work for our daily bread, doing 
nothing himself. Fortunately the owner of the 
estate, a good, old man, became interested in me, 
and gave me a good education, in common with 
his daughter— and his only son ! That was my 
misfortune ! At home, nothing but curses and 
blows on one side, prayers and tears on the 
other. At the castle, all hours seemed to be 
hours of bliss. Soon my impatiently beating 
heart awoke to new life. 1 loved the owner’s 
son, and he, much older than I was, loved me. 


56 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


We pledged each other — we had happy, blissful 
da 3 ’s!” Marja’s voice here failed her; she was 
bathed in tears. ** My father, who once caught 
me with Grisha, favored our love, forming all 
kinds of projects on it, and I foolishly believed 
and hoped, as he did. The dream was short. 
Grisha was sent to the School of Cadets in St. 
Petersburg; we parted, after swearing mutually 
eternal love ; he was to return as soon as he be- 
came an officer and make me his wife !” 

“ Of course, he never returned, the rascal?” 
asked the student, and Marja nodded. 

“ He did not. I waited and prayed and im- 
plored the Mother of God of Kasan, to preserve 
his heart for myself. Alas ! other mishaps came 
to pass ! The Tartars from the Ural brought us 
a fell disease ; men died like flies, fear and terror 
seized all hearts ; even the Pope’s prayers and 
holy water availed nothing. The owner died, 
then his daughter, lastly my ’dear mother 
also ! 

“ And now came the worst. The estate was 
sold and my father, on the brink of starvation, 
married the bailiff’s widow, a rich and horribly 
bad woman. 1 was an obstacle to both of them, 
and they tried to drive me away. The man in 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


67 


whom I believ'^ecl as in God, never came to save 
me from ineffable suffering ! Then I took a des- 
perate resolve : I walked from village to village, 
from house to house, in search of my beloved !” 

And .have you found him, Marja Anto- 
nowna ?” asked Alexander, in a low whisper. 

“ Yes ! 1 have found him ; but only to be told 
that he loved me no longer, that he never had 
loved me ! Here in Moscow I found him — acci- 
dentally — yesterday !” 

Her voice failed her ; she could say no more. 

“ Likin !” exclaimed the two men, with one 
voice. 

She nodded, unable to speak, hid her face in 
her hands and wept bitterly. 

“ The measure of that wretch is full !" hissed 
Stephan. 

Marja suddenly shook her head violently. 
“ Do not condemn him rashly, Stephan Alexeje- 
witch ? The human heart is changeable and 
cannot be controlled. It is so long since we 
were young ! he meant not to harm me ! No, 
he spoke very kindly to me, promised to be my 
friend forever. But that is impossible ! All is 
over ! Oh ! that I had never seen him again— 
never met him !" 


58 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Alexander’s face showed how deeply he was 
moved. “ Who knows,” he said, “if it was not 
better so? Fate often chooses very strange 
ways. What do you propose doing now ?” 

Marja tried to be herself once more ; she 
pushed her raven-black hair out of her forehead, 
and drew her hood over her head as well as she 
could. “ 1 do not know. There in nothing left 
but—” 

“To forget the one man, and to labor for all 
who cry for love and pity in their slavery, ignor- 
ance and loneliness!” said Alexander solemnly, 
and with a brilliant fire in his eyes. “ Be one of 
us, Marja Antonowna,” he continued. “We are 
a large company, brought together by personal 
suffering and deep sorrow over our nation’s dis- 
grace. They call us Nihilists and accuse us of a 
desire to annihilate all that exists. That is not 
true. We have conquered all selfishness in our- 
selves and on that account we claim the right to 
fight it wherever we meet it in life. For you, 
nothing is left to forget — and that you will find 
easy, without pain and without tears, when you 
learn to know our restless striving after means 
to secure the well-being of the masses. It is a 
glorious task to risk all for the bettering of the 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


59 


lot of our brethren and sisters, and to add stone 
after stone to the building up of a better future ! 
If you but once dry tears shed for no fault of 
our own, or restore a right stolen from the 
legitimate owner, you will feel how your own 
wounded heart will recover and once more beat 
with joy and happiness !” 

He had spoken warmly and as if inspired ; 
now he let Marja’s hand drop and his eyes 
rested on her face with intense expectation, as if 
trying to read on her noble brow the thoughts 
that were agitated within. 

At this moment the sun rose like a dazzling 
ball of fire above the roofs of the houses, and 
chased away the last, long veils of mist and fog, 
that had been left hanging on shrubs and trees 
and on the emerald green of the turf around the 
Convent. The bright light, that transformed 
the dew-drops in the green trees into sparkling 
diamonds, surrounded Marja’s head as with 
a halo, and reddened her pale cheeks. She 
opened her eyes wide, looking up at the stern 
but surpassingly beautiful man who was still 
standing immovable before her, demanding an 
answer. Their eyes met and became one. She 
rose slowly, almost painfully. “Here is my 


I 


60 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


hand,” she said in a low voice. “ I will try to 
follow and to resemble you !” 

The young man eagerly seized her hand and 
pressed it cordially. “I knew you would come 
to us!” he said joyfull}^ “We demand obedi- 
ence, silence and absolute devotion to the Holy 
Cause. Will you swear to do whatever y^ou 
may be asked to do now and hereafter?” Marja’s 
face glowed with perfect happiness, and he 
solemnly continued : “ Heaven and earth hear 

your vow — Heaven and earth will spurn you 
alike if ever you break it I And now come with 
me, Marja Antonowna, 3- our good-will shall be 
tested this very day ! All is ready for you !” 


CHAPTER IV. 

The Princess Anna was sitting in her grand- 
mother’s reception-room, dreaming. On a little 
malachite table before her lay an English novel ; 
she had tried to read, but her thoughts had 
proved stronger than the author’s genius. She 
was still suffering from last night’s fatigue, and 
felt weary ; but a host of pleasant memories filled 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


61 


her mind and brought one happy smile after the 
other to her rosy lips. The room, as the whole 
palace, was quiet and cool. All the curtains 
were down, to keep the siin out, and the ample 
court-yard in front of the house kept the noise 
of the street at a safe distance. The Princess 
Natalie had, as usual, driven out after the second 
breakfast at noon, to make a few purchases 
before her return to the country. Prince 
Michael was still invisible ; after nights spent at 
the faro-table he never appeared before dinner, 
and thus Anna had no companion but her book. 
She might have joined her cousin, but the two 
girls had never had much in common, and to-day 
especially, Anna was almost anxious to be left 
alone. “ What an interesting evening it was — 
last night?” she said to herself. 

Anna had come out, as Society calls the event, 
two years ago, but her rather stiff and reserved 
manner had prevented her beauty from being 
admired as it deserved. She had been much 
courted — the grand-daughter of the great, rich 
Princess Natalie, was in herself a great attrac- 
tion, — but her prematurely serious deportment 
had deterred young men, who preferred easier 
manners. She was reported to be proud and 


62 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


even arrogant, and neither the gay officers of 
the Guards, nor the younger members of the 
diplomatic corps, found much pleasure in her 
company. She was too independent for their 
taste, and too prompt in forming a judgment of 
her own for people who delighted in frivolous 
gossip, clever intrigues and even slightly ambig- 
uous witticisms. 

Anna returned the compliment. She declared 
that the young men of our day were all of them 
superficial, and hence she preferred to intercourse 
with older men. This was all the more natural, 
as her mother, the Princess Sonia, had treated 
her only daughter from childhood up, more as a 
friend than as a child. Yesterda}^, however, an 
entirely new experience had come to her. For 
the first time in her life she had been adored 
with almost unreserved admiration, and this not 
by one of the many youthful worshippers at her 
shrine, but by a man of mature years, whose life 
and exploits stamped him at once as an excep- 
tional hero, and whose views and principles had 
to her mind an imposing grandeur about them. 
Beside all this, Captain Likin’s presence was 
such as to dwarf all the admirers of the princess 
and to make them appear almost insignificant. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


63 


No wonder, therefore, that she saw his striking 
face before her mind's eye, and heard his deep, 
sonorous voice, and was glad to think how he 
had admired her, and her alone among a thousand 
beauties ! He was just telling her once more, 
that she was the only being on earth who could 
raise him out of the dark abysses of everyday 
life, to the sunny heights of a better life, when she 
was startled in her pleasant dreams by loud 
laughing and a blow on her arm, which she was 
unconsciously holding above her head. 

Here was Plena in an airy, white walking cos- 
tume, laughing to her heart's content. The tiny 
Tyrolese hat of coarse straw, with a scarlet bow, 
had slipped down in the neck and she tried in 
vain to hide behind her back, her red parasol 
and her long silk gloves, with which she had 
inflicted the blow. “You are nice ! Sleeping 
in broad daylight! And this in a pose! Just 
look !" and rising on tiptoe she bent back the 
upper part of her body most gracefully, and held 
her left arm bewitchingly above her chignon. 
“Just like Titian’s Venus! I always told you 
Mrs. Braddon was fit only to put you to sleep !” 

Anna did not relish this gay ety. “ Hpw could 
you frighten me so?" she asked almost reproach- 


64 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


fully. “You will make mischief one of these 
days with your madcap's tricks ! I had such 
sweet dreams !” 

She resumed her easy position and declared 
her intention to return to her thoughts, but 
Plena, her whole face quivering with suppressed 
laughter, asked: “What were you dreaming, 
eh ?” 

“ Not about you,” was the almost angry reply. 
“ You are too preposterous. Plena!” 

Por a second the smile left Plena’s face. “ And 
you, as usual, very uncivil, Anna, ” she said, and 
went to the glass to arrange her hat. “ I came 
to ask you if you will walk with me. The 
weather is splendid, the sun is burning hot, the 
sparrows are twittering with delight, and all is 
merry and joyous!” 

She smiled once more and began to put on her 
long gloves, looking expectantly at Anna. But 
no answer came, for at the critical moment the 
butler announced that Captain Gregory Petro- 
witch Likin asked if the Princess would receive 
him. “ Ah !” cried Plena wickedly, “ the Nihil- 
ist-killer !” She looked quizzically at her 
cousin, and of a sudden her eyes flashed with 
merriment. “ I run !” she said, and instantly dis- 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


65 


appeared through a side-door, laugliing mischiev- 
ously. The servant added: “ 1 told the Cap- 
tain that their Highnesses the Princesses Sonia 
and Natalie had both driven out, but he insisted 
upon being announced to the Princess Anna.” 
After this she had, of course, to receive the visi- 
tor ; but when she rose, her heart beat and she 
felt not half as sure of herself as usual. Never- 
theless, she looked as unapproachable as ever, 
when the bold officer entered. 

He looked fresh and fair, as if he had slept 
all night, while he had never closed his eyes. 
He came quickly up to the Princess and, his 
hands resting on the hilt of his sword, he said: 
“ Pardon me. Princess, if I begged to be admitted 
in the absence of the ladies. 1 could not but 
come to tell you, before 1 leave for St. Peters- 
burg, how grateful I am to you for last night. I 
shall never in iny life forget the evening. And 
then — I wished to hear from your own lips, that 
I might really be welcome if I dared accept 
Prince Michael’s kind invitation, and one of 
these days turned up at Dulino ?” 

He steadily looked into Anna’s face. She 
blushed, feeling his eye, and confused by his 
words. On no account could she now have 


66 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


looked at him, and it was with downcast eyes 
that she avoided his question, and with unmis- 
takable embarrassment simply said : “ Will you 

not sit down ?” 

Likin smiled and said he did not mean to abuse 
her kindness. “ I am in a great hurry. I have 
just received dispatches from General Drentelen 
in St. Petersburg, which compel me to leave 
instantly for the South. On my return I shall 
pass near your estates, and hence my question, 
which is still unanswered.” 

Anna was herself again. “ My parents, and 
especially Grandmaman, who spends the summer 
with us, will be glad to see you,” she said, ven- 
turing at last to raise her eyelids a little. 

“ And you ?” he asked in subdued tones ; and 
his eyes tried to catch a look from Anna’s. 

“ 1 ?” she repeated with renewed embarrass- 
ment. Like a flash of liglrtning it passed through 
her mind that he was very bold, and that much 
depended on her answer. But she cduld not 
help it — he was the stronger of the two — and 
now fully looking up at him, she replied in a 
whisper : “ The guests of my parents are always 
welcome to me also !” 

She trembled at her own words and blushed 


ATJ, OR NOTHING. 


67 


violently. Likin bowed low, took her hand, and 
raised it to his lips. “ I thank you, Princess,” he 
said, “ heartily,” and she felt his hot breath, as it 
rose to her wrist and made her tremble. “ You 
will certainly see me at Dulino!” He let go her 
hand, drew himself up and stood waiting. 

“In Dulino!” The word escaped her lips 
unconsciously, and she blushed still more at see- 
ing how it illumined his whole face. Still he 
bowed reverently, begged to be remembered to 
the others, and, after casting one more fervent 
glance at her, he left the room. 

Anna remained motionless for a moment. The 
visit, short as it was, seemed to be an eternity. 
She still felt his burning lips on her hand, a 
strange, blissful feeling animated her, and once 
more she returned to the morning’s dreams. 

Plena had gone out alone. When she reached 
the boulevard, she saw the lieutenant of Hussars, 
Prince Peter Michaelowitch, standing at the end 
of the street, looking impatiently at the Kreml. 

“ Will she come or will she not?” he growled 
a hundredth time. “ I certainl}^ made it her 
duty to come here at one o’clock !” 

He twirled his little mustache and eagerly 
watched the boulevard. He took his position 


68 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


near one of the horizontal wooden crosses on top 
of a stone post, which form little gates of en- 
trance to the different parts of the promenade. 

Suddenly he started. In an instant he had 
leapt over the barrier and hastened down to- 
wards a well-known crimson parasol. A few 
moments later he stood, breathless, by her side, 
and said reproachfully : 

“ How long you have kept me waiting !’’ 

She turned up her little nose a little more 
perpendicularly than usual, and asked iron- 
ically : 

“ Ah ! Have I perhaps entered into obligations 
at a certain hour to walk in a certain place ? I 
came here by the merest chance, because it was 
intolerably tedious in the house.” 

“ Really by the merest chance, Flenushka ? 
Quite accidentally ?” 

“ Quite accidentally ! Petia,” she vowed, and 
looked intently at the other side of the street. 

Peter looked very discontented and said noth- 
ing. Thus they walked for some distance in 
silence, till they reached the boulevard and 
turned into the promenade. 

“ Why did you not come to breakfast?” at last 
asked Plena, trying to look unconcerned. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


69 


Peter sighed. “ I was on duty ; we had to 
drill on horseback for the coming manoeuvres. 
Our general is coming through here, on his way 
to Odesso, where they say he is to be Governor. 
I am so tired of this army life ! When you in 
Dulino are free and easy, I have to do duty here 
in the sweat of my brow, and what for?” 

“ Why do you not get leave of absence?” 

“ Because I cannot get it before July,” he con- 
tinued, angrily ; “but I did not mean that. I 
have been seriously thinking of giving up the 
army altogether.” 

Plena smiled contentedly. But she asked in- 
credulously: 

“ Really ?*' 

“ I cannot be all my life a lieutenant of Hus- 
sars ! And how can I rise in ^ peace-times? 
Sooner or later papa will want me to help him 
in managing Dulino, and I think I would be 
much better prepared for that at some academy 
or university than in the Hussars!” 

Peter was so absorbed in these thoughts, that 
he did not notice how astonished and how de- 
lighted Flenushka was. They had stopped at 
the other end of the boulevard, and the girl was 
steadily looking at the Redeemer’s Temple. 


70 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Prince Peter, however, seemed to have no inter- 
est in the building and concluded, apparently 
after long meditation : 

“ And as long as 1 am a lieutenant, we cannot 
marry.” 

Was it the crimson parasol that shed its rich 
color over Plena’s face and neck? She turned 
away her head as far as she could and ex- 
claimed : “ Are you beside yourself, Petia ?” 

Then she fixed her eyes upon the golden cupola 
of the grand church before her, till she saw 
nothing but black and blue specks dancing in the 
air. 

Peter was rather surprised at his cousin’s ex- 
clamations than offended. “ But, Flenushka, you 
know we are going to be married ! Whom else 
could I take? I had long intended — ” 

He could not proceed, for Plena interrupted 
him violently : “ Will you be silent !” and stamped 
with her little feet. At the same time she looked 
at him for the first time, and he noticed that her 
lips were quivering and a tear was sparkling in 
her eye. 

This disconcerted Peter completely. “ But 
plenushka,” he began, “ is that thought of marry- 
ing me so very frightful? 1 have long since 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


n 


determined to pull off this gay coat, and to con- 
tinue and complete my studies, and then to ask 
father to give me some small estate — and all that 
for your sake !” 

But Plena was not so easily reconciled. “ And 
the lieutenant thought I would say ‘ Yes ’ and 
‘Amen’ to all that? But you are mistaken, 
Peter, utterly mistaken ! I do not want a man 
who is to be sensible only because of myself. I 
shall marry the man I love, and no one else ! Do 
you understand?” , 

But Peter was not to be intimidated. “Why, 
you do love me after all— how could it be other- 
wise ?” 

This was too much. Plena could not submit 
to that ! Her blood rose to her head and she 
cried, almost weeping in her wrath : “ I do not 
love you at all, at all ! I cannot love a man who 
wants to do right only for the sake of a woman, 
and not because of himself !” 

Plena hesitated. She regretted having used 
such cruel words, especially as Peter looked at 
her utterly amazed and distressed. She had 
never seen him look so sad and so overcome. 
Now the tears sprang up in her eyes, and she 
stepped close up to Peter, put her little hand on 


72 


ALL OB NOTHING. 


his arm and said : “ Don’t believe me, Petia ! It 
is not true what I say. I do not know what 1 am 
saying^ !” and she sobbed bitterly. When she 
saw his face instantly brighten up, she felt sorry 
again, because she had acted so foolishly ; she 
drew down her sunshade till it hid her completely, 
and tried to slip by him. Before Peter could stop 
her or be quite certain what had happened, she 
had cried : “ Let me go, Petia, let me go !” and 
disappeared at the end of the street, on her way 
home. 

Plena did not know how she reached the pal- 
ace and. her room. She found herself there, all 
of a sudden hurled the parasol from her, and 
threw herself on her bed, breaking out in loud 
lamentations. But it did not sound mournful at 
all, this weeping ; and when after some time. 
Plena raised her little head once more and looked 
for her handkerchief to dry her tears, she smiled 
as when victorious rays of the sun breakthrough 
black threatening clouds. How could this good 
hearty, unbearable Peter talk so prosaically of 
their wedding, as if he were telling her of a new 
horse he meant to buy ! What a disappointment 
when she had dreamt such strange, heart-rending 
scenes, ending in his imploring her love on his 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


73 


knees, and her giving him her little finger, to 
raise him and make him happy ! He was after 
all a dear, nice fellow, who loved her, no doubt, 
with all his heart. But he must tremble a little 
longer — he was to see that this very evening. 
She was so young and Peter himself was barely 
twenty-one ! Then she suddenly remembered 
his amazed face, when she had doubted his being 
in his senses, and at the recollection of the scene 
she laughed aloud. Then the dinner-bell rang, 
^and Plena had barely time to take off her hat, to 
sponge her eyes and to cast a last, lingering look 
at herself in the mirror ! 

Then she danced merrily down and into the 
dining-room. 


CHAPTER V. 

Prince Peter Michaelowitch remained sitting 
on a bench on the promenade, after Plena had 
left him, trying to unravel the enigma of her 
conduct. That she should not love him at all, 
he considered simply impossible. He pulled at 
his cigar, and cheerful certainty and hopeful 


74 . 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


trust returned to liis features. But what did she 
mean by saying she would love that man only 
who should desire to be somebody for his own 
sake, and not merely to please a woman ? Had 
he not told her that that was exactly what he 
meant to do ? Peter was an honest, upright 
fellow. Not overburdened with talents, and 
brought up ver}^ simply, he had in the great city 
also preserved his fresh and honest simplicity, 
blindly obeying the will of his parents and 
rarely, if ever, thinking of his future. Neverthe- 
less, he had of late felt more and more how use- 
less his existence seemed to be, and convinced 
himself that the military career could never sat- 
isfy him entirely. Now, since he had given his 
heart to Plena, he thought more seriously of 
making some great change. And to-day, this 
little, inexperienced girl, almost a child still, had 
told him in clear, unvarnished words, that it was 
high time he should give up this useless life and 
return to his native soil, to lead there the life of 
a genuine Russian Bogard’s son. At once he 
decided that to-morrow he would demand leave 
of absence, go to Dulino, and seek an interview 
with his father. 

When he had come to this decision, he looked 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


75 


up and saw on the other side of the boulevard a 
young man, somewhat shabbily dressed, who 
seemed to expect somebody on the promenade, 
and continually looked across at Peter. He was 
evidently a student, to judge from his round cap 
on the closely-trimmed hair, and the spectacles 
on the pale, half-starved looking face. Peter 
was struck by the restlessness of the man, who 
was continually sliding to and fro on his hard 
seat, as if lae were sitting on a spiny cactus-leaf. 
It was half-past five now — the dinner-hour of 
fashionable Moscow, — and the boulevard was 
almost deserted. Just then a woman came up, 
walking slowly, and so anxiously examining all 
who were within sight, that it attracted observa- 
tion. Peter noticed, that as soon as she ap- 
proached, the student changed his conduct ; he 
kept perfectly quiet and followed her with his 
e^^es, squinting behind the glasses. When she 
was perhaps a hundred yards distant, the student 
rose and prepared to leave, but instead of follow- 
ing the woman, he took the opposite direction. 
She had in the meantime reached the end of the 
boulevard, and now stopped, looking back. 
Then she returned as slowly as she had come. 
To Peter’s surprise, the student also had turned 


76 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


back, and the two must needs, ere long, meet face 
to face. They passed each other very closely. 
And now Prince Peter saw distinctly how their 
left hands met, and something white passed from 
the hand of the woman into that of the student. 
Then both continued their walk, as if nothing 
had happened. 

Peter’s curiosity was excited immensely, but 
he determined to continue his observation. Now 
he saw the woman leave the boulevard, cross the 
side street and walk back rapidly in the direc- 
tion from which she had come. He rose and 
followed her, unseen, keeping pace with her. 
Before him he had the student, who was walking 
very slowly. His left hand on high, he seemed 
to read something that he held in it. Then he 
let the hand drop and squinted towards the 
right. At this moment, the woman overtook 
him and went, without looking back, across 
Arbat Square, towards the boulevard. Thus 
she reached the entrance to the Great boulevard, 
which like all similar approaches, was protected 
by a movable, wooden cross. Prince Peter 
noticed, that as the student was trjdng with his 
left hand to turn the horizontal cross, so as to let 
him pass, a little piece of paper dropped on the 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


77 


ground ; he was about to stoop to pick it up, 
but Peter, who was close behind him, moved 
the arm of the cross, and thus pushed him for- 
ward. He touched his cap and said : I beg 
pardon ; I could not know that you would stop 
so suddenly !” 

“ It does not matter !” said the student with a 
hateful look from behind his spectacles. Then 
he went on, to cross the square. 

Peter’s curiosity got the better of him ; he saw 
the bit of paper at his feet, picked it up quick 
as lightning, and then went in the direction of 
theKreml. It was only when he slowly ascended 
the way to the Dark Door, behind which the 
Imperial Palace rose in terrace upon terrace, 
that he examined his treasure-trove. It con- 
sisted of a card rolled up tightly, with the 
words : “ Our Country and Freedom.’’ The 
words filled him with consternation. “ Were 
they not the motto of that newspaper which is 
deemed so eminently dangerous ? Can I have 
met a Nihilist?” For a moment he thought of 
restoring the card to the owner, but he soon 
said to himself: “This does not concern me! 
God be thanked, I am not a police spy 1 But 
the card I’ll keep at all events !” If he had fob 


■78 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


lowed tlic woman who had excited his interest, 
he would have seen her sit down on a bench, 
quite near to where he had been, and wait there 
till the student joined her. “ Are 3'Ou Adler?” 
she asked. 

It was Marja Plevanko who cautiously 
examined her neighbor. 

He nodded. “ Who sends you ?” he asked 
next. 

“ I will tell you when 1 am sure that you are 
Adler, she answered calml3\ 

The student put his hand into his right waist- 
coat-pocket and drew forth a gold ring in the 
shape of a serpent biting its tail. Marja took it 
and carefully compared it with a similar ring on 
her own hand. “ It is right !” she said, and 
returned the ring. “ I am sent by Alexander 
Michaelow to invite you to come to-night to the 
Hotel Saratow. You will ask for Pronor, the 
waiter; he has his instructions. Good-bye!” 

She rose and rapidly made her way to a house 
near by, in which she occupied a small, poorly 
furnished room that looked upon the yard. As 
she entered, a letter was handed her; an old ser- 
vant had just brought it. Marja thanked the 
janitor and hastened to her room. The address 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


79 


was in an unknown hand. Who could write to 
lier ? Who knew her address? She opened it 
eagerly, a paper dropped out of it — it was a 
hundred-rouble note. Her surprise increased ; 
she threw the bank-note on the table and opened 
the letter, glancing first at the signature. 
“Gregory Petrowitch !” she exclaimed, turning 
pale and then red. Then she looked indignant 
and pushed the note so far front her that it fell 
over the other end of the table. She tried, 
although with wrath in her eyes and bitterness 
oh her closely compressed lips, to calm herself 
enough to read the letter. It ran thus : 

“ Marja Antonowna: 

“ When you receive these lines I am leaving 
Moscow ; a few weeks later I shall be in St. 
Peterburg, and then you will hear again from 
me. I beg, until then, you will remain in Mos- 
cow, for although far from you, I shall watch 
over you. I swore to be a brother to you and I 
shall keep my oath. I have been deeply moved 
by meeting you, and your despair has wounded 
my heart. I have not betrayed you, for I have 
loved no one else. But 1 am not able to give 
you that love which you demand. For years 
my heart has known but one passion : Ambition ! 
My ways are dark and dangerous, for they all 


80 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


lead to Power. I am even now infinitely greater 
than you can divine, and I shall not rest till 1 
reach the summit. Excelsior! I beseech you not 
to offend me by refusing to accept the money I 
send ; it is but right that I should make life easy 
to her who once was dearer to me than my own 
sister.” 

Marja let hang her arms and the tears stole 
slowly down her cheeks. She retraced now one 
by one all that he had told her with his deep, 
sonorous voice, of his life and of his reasons why 
he had never come back to her. She though she 
understood it now, and with a calmer heart she 
said to herself : “ He is a good man after all 

and then laid her aching head on the window-sill 
and wept silently. 

Thus she was found by the student when he 
came, according to agreement, to accompany her 
to the secret meeting. She returned his pres- 
sure of her hand like a friend, and begged him to 
wait for her below on the promenade. He went 
looking askance at the letter, which Marja was 
still holding in her hand ; she noticed his glance 
and she trembled. Had she been over-hasty 
after all? But she had sworn and could not 
return ! She picked up the hundred-rouble note. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


81 


slipped it in the letter and concealed both in her 
bosom. “ This is my secret," she said, “ and no 
one shall tear it from me ! You say you are 
watching over me, Grisha — well, then, I also will 
be your guardian-angel as far as in me lies !" 

When the two new friends entered the hall, 
the student was received with the words: “Is 
that you, Sasha ? Whom do you bring us there ?" 

“ A . new companion!" he answered curtly, 
pushed a chair towards Marja, and took his seat 
with the others. Turin happened to be Marja’s 
neighbor; he shook hands with her most cor- 
dially. Then he ordered two glasses of tea and 
one of Cognac, filled his short pipe, and began to 
smoke. At the same time his keen eyes perused, 
so to say, the assembly, and at last remained 
fixed upon a handsome, stately man with a 
heavy, blonde beard ; a noble, lofty brow, two » 
bold, brave eyes and an energetic mouth with an 
ironical smile playing around it, completed the 
portrait. “ Andrej Shell?" he asked in an under- 
tone. “The same! Alexander Michaelow !" was 
the answer. The latter shook hands with the 
man, and the two, nearly of the same age, looked 
firmly into each other’s eyes. Michaelow’s face 
expressed great joy ; he once more took his 


82 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


friend’s hand, pressed it cordiall}^ and felt that 
he had found a friend, and not merely a fellow 
conspirator. The others did not seem to notice 
the incident, if we except a small, delicately 
made blondine, with curly hair and exquisitely 
aristocratic features, which rather contrasted 
with the lofty brow and the expressive deep- 
blue eyes. She smiled and nodded contentedly 
and then leant back in her cane-bottomed chair. 

This was Sophie Perowsha, the Bogard’s 
daughter, who had joined the people, although 
her father was a general and a favorite at Court. 
In spite of her ardent love for her mother, she 
had left her paternal home and sacrificed wealth 
and rank for an idea. Her dreams and her 
character overcame all opposition ; she was 
praised by everybody. 

, After the usual routine business had been 
attended to, a resolution was offered that, for a 
certain purpose, a Select Committee should 
meet on the 15th of June in the house of a black- 
smith at Lipeck, and on the 20th a Congress 
should be held in the house of a former nurse of 
Sophie Perowsha. 

“ I have some important news for you all,” said 
Michaelow finally, “ which come to me from 


ALT. OR NOTHING. 


83 


some of my friends in the Society known as 
‘ Our Country and Freedom.’ We have decided 
at all hazards to substitute Revolution for Prop- 


aganda. Since we have taken up arms, tired 
of sterile, peaceful Propaganda, and since we 
have replied to the murder of some of our com- 
panions by killing several tools of this bloody 
government, our conviction has become firmly 
settled, that our only way to fight is to strike 
terror. To do this effectively, we must, however, 
first, know all the secrets of the government, and 
secondly, obey one single head. Through the 
agency of some of our brethren, we have secured 
such a head, who belongs to us body and soul, 
and who yet occupies such a position in the 
world, that his influence is almost all-powerful. 
A Committee, chosen by all, and of which I am a 
member, is in regular communication with this 
Chief. I have orders to announce to you that at 
Lipeck the new organization will be submitted 
to you all for adoption.” 

“What is the name of this Chief?” asked 
Adler. 

“ That 1 do not know !” was the curt answer. 
“ He simply calls himself/.” 


84 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


“ And you obey him ?” Turin sneer.ed. 

“ Yes, because he has rendered us most valu- 
able services ; his power is evidently great, his 
mind bold and lofty, his eyes everywhere. And 
finally, brethren, Mirow brought him to me — he 
and Mirow , are sworn brothers. He knows 
him.” 

Michaelow’s eyes flashed fire. “ If Mirow is 
this unknown Chief’s friend,” he said, 1 sub- 
mit ! Where Mirow obeys, we, all of us, may fol- 
low blindly ! ” 

After these words an almost reverential si- 
lence followed. Suddenly the door opened, and 
the waiter Pronor appeared. His little, upturned 
nose seemed to tilt up more than usually ; he 
carefully examined the persons present, as if 
searching for some one, and at last, with the air 
of an infallible judge of men, he went up to 
Alexander Michaelow. ‘‘You are Sasha!” he 
said. Michaelow looked at him sharply and an- 
swered : “Yes! What do you want?” “I have 
to give you a note. 1 am told it is urgent.” 

“ Give it to me then ! I am Sasha, I tell you !” 

He held out his hand, into which the waiter 
deposited the small note, with the air of a con- 
queror. It was addressed in a back hand sim- 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


85 


ply to “ Sasha.” “ It is well ! > You can go!” he 
said with apparent composure, but the observant 
eyes of many saw very clearly, that he was in a 
state of great excitement. The mysterious 
waiter, therefore, had hardly left the room, when 
he was questioned bn all sides, from whom the 
letter came. 

“ From Him,'' he replied, and curiously opened 
the envelope. His face spoke of iron resolution, 
as his eye hastily flew over the lines. Then he 
cried triumphantly : “ He is everywhere ! — I 
told you so ! — Listen to what he says !” 

And he read in an undertone : 

I approve of your resolution to meet in Lipeck 
and in Woronesh. Disband before eleven o’clock 
and instantly leave Moscow ! The police knows 
where you are, and is on your track. Till mid- 
night the railroad stations are safe. Let Sasha 
wait at eleven o’clock for a message, at the 
Riazan station! /.” 

The effect of this letter was magical. How 
could the secret head of the Societ}^ called 
“ Our Country and Freedom,” have heard in St. 
Petersburg, what had only a few minutes ago 
been decided here in Moscow? Here was a 
tangible mystery, a marvellous enigma, which no 


86 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


one could divine, and even the most incredulous 
revolutionists, who had faced death in many a 
shape, stood aghast. The little crowd parted in 
silence, and as unceremoniously as the}^ had 
come together an hour before. Alexander and 
Marja left the room through a side-'door, and felt 
their way through a dark passage to a back- 
door, from which they easily reached the open 
country. As they walked along, Marja asked 
her companion, if he really would leave Moscow 
before midnight? 

“ That depends on the message which [ am to 
receive before that hour. At all events. Til let 
you know." 

They went on some distance without a word ; 
then Marja suddenly asked : “ Who is Mirow ?" 

Michaelow looked surprised and answered 
proudly : “ He used to be the first among us 
all, and he has borne witness for his character 
and his fidelity by five years’ cruel confinement. 
A year ago he recovered his freedom, and since 
then he has thoroughly reorganized our party ; 
he is a man who has not- his equal." 

“ And where does he live now ?" 

Her friend smiled. “ Everywhere and no- 
where! Those who seek -him, look for him as 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


87 


fora pin in the ocean. But when he is needed, 
he is there, on the instant, and woe to him who 
has to dread his wrath !” 

They had reached the square, and here they 
parted.* Marja, greatly excited, hurried home. 
Her companion turned to the right, leisurely 
making his way to the Riazan Station ; he was 
still occupied with the lines he had received 
from Him, and which had surprised the assem- 
bly so greatly. 

And yet the whole had happened quite natur- 
ally. Half an hour before the meeting was held, 
the tall foLm of a man, wrapped in a large, black 
cloak, and with a broad brimmed, dark felt hat 
covering his head down to his eyes, had stood 
for some time listening, at the door of the room 
in which the Nihilists were consulting. Then he 
had hastened silently, as if walking on felt shoes, 
along the passage and down the staircase; then 
out of the house and upon the deserted boule- 
vard. Here he had stepped up to a lamp- 
post and tore a leaf out of a note-book; on this 
he had rapidly written a few linesC Then, fold- 
ing up the small sheet and putting it into an en- 
velope, he had gone up to an old, gray-haired ser- 
vant of the hotel and asked him ta give it to a 


88 


ALL OB NOTHING. 


waiter, who might take it up to the meeting held 
upstairs, where it would readily meet its destina- 
tion. We have seen with what diplomatic skill 
this had been accomplished by the great man, 
Pronor. Finally the disguised man had hailed a 
cab, gotten into it, and ordered the driver to take 
him to the Riazan Station. 

Michaelow had of course no suspicion of all 
these cunningly devised steps, or he would not 
have been so sorely troubled, as he slowly made 
his way to the same distant place. 


CHAPTER VI. 

The blacksmith, Kalow, was standing angrily 
in front of his smoky smithy. The afternoon sky 
was covered with drifting clouds, which from 
time to time found relief in heavy showers. 
The wind was whistling and howling around 
the poor little shanty, the wooden dwelling- 
house, and the large, open sheds, which made up 
the man’s sadly neglected homestead. The storm 
was playing havoc with the heavy gates of the 
yard, which tried apparently in vain to protect 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


89 


the place against the public road and its tramps ; 
the little run, that generally flowed along modest- 
ly and silently, had suddenly risen to look like a 
torrent with miniature waves. The smith grum- 
bled and growled, inveighing against the 
weather, and adding : 

“ Now, in the middle of June, when the 
weather looks like icy November! I dare not 
make a new fire ; my bellows could never com- 
pete with that storm on high !” Then he shook 
his head, saying once more : “ 1 ought not to 
have permitted it ! But my Andrew wanted it, 
and I could not refuse him 

He stroked his long white beard with his 
horny right hand, while the wind was sweep- 
ing over his bald head and tearing the few sil- 
very curls that made a fringe. Suddenly a feeble 
whistling came from the direction in which the 
town lay. Ah ! there is the train. And my 
boy, my Andrew 1” 

He went back into his dwelling-house, and 
began to set things a little in order. Thus he 
did not hear the steps of a tall, powerfully-built 
young man, who came over from the high-road 
and now entered the smithy, through the ever- 
open gates. This was Andrew, who stopped and 


90 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


smiling, watched his father. After a little while 
he sang out very merrily : “ Little father ! here 
I am !” 

The old blacksmith turned round quickly at 
the sound of this fresh, cheerful voice and, with 
delight in his eyes, gazed at the young man. 
‘‘ Is it really you, Andrusha, you, the Devil’s 
own brat? Why don’t you come in ? Ashamed 
of your father, perhaps !” 

Andrew entered and shook the rain out of his 
soaked felt hat. “ Yes, it is I, body, soul and 
mind, as I am and live and have my being !” he 
cried, in the exuberance of his joy. Kalow seized 
his guest, — whom, tall as he was, he overtopped 
by several inches, — by the shoulders and looked 
him over carefully. Then he drew him tenderly 
to his heart and kissed him three times. “ You 
might have come sooner!” he growled. 

“ Yes,” replied the son, “ I ought to have done 
so, but I had no time. There is a heap to be 
done in the world, if you aro bent upon improv- 
ing things I” 

The blacksmith shook his hoary head and said : 
“ The world is good enough, if we know how to 
take it I I am not at all pleased that you should 
have asked all these people to my house !” 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


91 


“ Did you always think so, little father?” asked 
the son, amused at the pld man’s complaint. 

“ Not exactly ; but when a man has seen three 
score and ten winters, and his hair has turned 
white, he grows wiser and looks at things more 
calmly. Well, I won’t scold ! You know old 
Kalow can refuse you nothing! But mind, no 
harm must be done ! I do not want you to fall 
into Satan’s snares !” 

“ Satan has not caught me yet awhile, and will 
not soon get hold of me, I think. Only promise 
you will neither see or hear anything that is 
going on here in these few days !” 

“ Old Kalow is not a washerwoman,” cried the 
old man angrily. And now, forward march ! 
into the house, and let me get you some refresh- 
ment.” 

Two hours later the large room in the black- 
smith’s house presented a remarkable scene. 
Beside the male and female companions, who 
had met in Moscow a few weeks ago, a number 
of new ones had come. Most of them had not 
met for some time ; not a few had been in prison, 
others had made Propaganda in distant prov- 
inces. All, however, were more or less intimately 
acquainted with each other. A few ladies also 


92 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


appeared. Sophie Perowska, who in her dark- 
gray dress, that fitted her tightly up to the neck, 
looked charming, and helped a dark brunette to 
make tea for the Samowar. Near the table stood 
Alexander Michaelow, but not now in the work- 
man’s blouse, but in evening costume, which was 
exceedingly becoming to him. With him was 
Mirow, a tall, distinguished-looking man, with 
dark hair and closely-trimmed beard. 

They were conversing in a whisper. Mirow’s 
looks, which rested on Adler, full of wrath, 
showed that he was the object of their criti- 
cism. Suddenly Michaelow said : “ I have seen 
him!” Mirow started. “Where and when?” 
he asked eagerly. 

“ In Moscow, a few - weeks ago. He ap- 
peared before me like a vision, put a letter in 
my hand, and was gone. I only saw the flash of 
his eyes, and shall never forget it.” 

“ The same way he appeared to me ; only I 
heard his voice, which long held an echo in my 
memory,” said Mirow, and after a pause he 
asked : “ Do you have that letter here?” 

Michaelow drew from an inner pocket a folded 
letter, and silently handed it to his friend. Mirow 
read in a low voice : 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


93 


Stay in Moscow, Sasha, and organize our 
forces there. 1 watch over 3 ^ou. On the twenty- 
fifth day after the Congress at Woronesh I 
expect you at twelve o’clock at night, at the 
church-door in the village of Dulino. There you 
will make your report to me and receive your 
orders. “ /.” 

Mirow let the hand with the letter drop and 
looked dreamily before him ; then he returned 
the letter to his friend, saying : “Do as you 
are ordered !” 

Sophie Perowsha had taken a seat near the 
stove, when the Samowar began to sing, and the 
tea-glasses had been handed round ; she con- 
stantly looked at ( he door, full of longing expecta- 
tion. Now they lighted up with happiness, as it 
opened and Shell entered. Their eyes met 
instantly, and what he read in hers made his 
heart beat high. He showed, however, nothing 
of what he felt, threw his wet hat on a bench and 
went straight up to the table. Here he shook 
hands with Michaelow and Mirow, while the lat- 
ter asked : “ Can we begin now ?” 

As Shell said “Yes,” and with Michaelow 
stepped behind the table, all was suddenly still 
in the room. All eyes were fixed upon Michael- 
ow, who drew himself up to his full height; his 


94 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


spiritual features, his firm, inapproachable pres- 
ence, proved what every man present already 
knew, that this man, equally skilled in wielding 
the tongue and the pen, was a born leader. He 
now, looking grave and resting his right hand 
on the table, spoke in his sonorous voice : 

“You all know why we have met. We want 
to establish first, in union with the boldest and 
most honest men of the'Social Revolution, where 
we stand and how great our strength is ; then, 
to settle what is to be done !” He next recited 
what had been done, inveighed against splits in 
the party, and concluded with the words : “ Away 
with a socialistic propaganda ! Long life to polit- 
ical revolution 1” 

Here he paused, letting his bright eye rove 
through the assembly ; a second later loud, unani- 
mous applause rewarded his eloquence. 

Then Turin, who had been leaning against the 
wall, near the window, stepped forth and said : 
“ I agree with every word Mirow has said, but I 
want some information. Michaelow told us in 
Moscow of a separate organization within the 
Society called ‘ Our Country and Freedom,’ and 
of a mysterious Chief. We have witnessed our- 
selves, the power and almost omnipresence of this 
man, who hides behind the proud name of ‘7.,’ 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


95 


But if we are to follow blindly and obey some- 
one, we must at least know who this is. I will 
not be a blind tool in the hands of unknown men !" 

Mirow looked at Turin with a cold, penetrat- 
ing eye. “Do you know me, Stephan Turin?” 
he asked, and smiled ironically. 

“ You 1 know, and you I am willing to follow ; 
but I acknowledge no one else above me !” 

“ Well, fhen, follow me! That is all you will 
be asked to do. Sasha will tell you more, but 
this 1 may tell you now : that we, the Terrorists 
of the Society ‘ Our Country and Freedom,’ 
have a committee which was chosen unanimously 
by all of us, and which we have sworn blindly to 
obey. This committee have selected a Chief, 
whose orders they receive, to test them and to 
execute.” 

“ Who is this Chief?” cried a hoarse, disagree- 
able voice. 

It was Adler; who looked hard at Mirow 
through his spectacles. 

Mirow turned to him and said curtly and im- 
patiently : 

“ That I do not know ; but even if I did know, 
I would not be at liberty to tell you.” 

“ And yet they say you are his brother by a 


96 


ALL OR NOTHINO. 


pact of blood !” cried Adler. “ Equal rights for 
all, is our motto; we want to get rid of author- 
ities, not to create new ones !” 

The veins on Mirow’s forehead began to swell, 
but he checked himself, and said calmly : 

“ Whom are the ‘ we,’ of whom you speak, 
Brother Adler ; 1 see nO following behind you. 
But, for the sake of our common, sacred cause, 
I will answer you ! Hear, then, what happened 
to me : 

“ One evening, as I was sitting in my cell, 
worn out by a long examination,, despairing of 
ever being free again, and staring into the dark- 
ness around me, suddenly a weighty hand was 
laid on my shoulder, and a deep voice of won- 
drous metal spoke: ‘Take heart, Mirow ; the 
hour of freedom* is approaching !’ Unable to 
utter a sound, I looked up and noticed between 
me and the door, a tall figure in a large cloak 
and a broad brimmed hat, with a long beard 
flowing down his breast. 1 was about to ask 
who it was that could enter so noiselessly, but 
the man beckoned me to be silent and added : 
‘ To-morrow night, at midnight, be read}^ to fol- 
low me!’ Then he disappeared. 

“A slight noise, made by the closing door, 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


97 


proved to me that I had not merely dreamt. 
You may imagine in what excitement I spent 
that day and the first part of the night. Five 
)^ears I had sighed and suffered in this cell, and 
at last, at last ! freedom was in sight. I counted 
as well as I could every hour, till I thought mid- 
night must be near. But I was kept waiting a 
long while ; then of a sudden, the door opened 
noiselessly, and the same figure stood before me. 
He closed the door behind him and all was still 
around us. At last he whispered : ‘ I make no 

condition in setting you free, Mirow — I only ask 
for your friendship ! I have long since been one 
of you, but my position in the world prevents 
my openly professing my convictions. But I 
will swear to you by my life, that I will give 
myself to the social and political revolution till 
my last breath, if you will promise to obey my 
orders.’ 

“ Before 1 could answer, a dagger was flash- 
ing in his hand. I saw the white skin of his left 
arm, and then 1 saw it turn red. I was deeply 
moved. Almost unconsciously I bent over the 
place and putting lips to the slowly trickling 
blood. Then I seized his dagger, which he 
abandoned to me, scratched my arm and offered 


98 


ALL OR KOTHING. 


the place to my unknown visitor. He drank my 
blood, drew me to his breast, and kissed me. 

‘ Now we are one for life or death !’ he said in a 
low voice full of unmistakable affection. ‘ Keep 
the dagger in memory of this hour,’ he whis- 
pered, ‘ and follow me !’ Throwing a large cloak 
around me and pressing a hat on my head, he 
turned, opened the door and went out. I fol- 
lowed him silently and walking carefully ; we 
walked thus through long, black passages ; we 
went up-stairs and again down-stairs, he always 
holding my hand firmly in his. At last I heard 
a faint splashing — here was the Neva, no doubt J 
Suddenly my guide stopped and listened. Then 
he pressed with his whole weight against the 
wall ; it gave way and showed a small opening, 
through which a keen cold draught came in ; at 
my feet I saw the sheen of dark waters. 

“ My benefactor drew me down a few steps ; 
then he turned back to close the door again.. 
We were standing in a niche in the walls of the 
fortress, and I saw for the first time after five 
long, long years, the sky and the sparkling stars 
I felt giddy, and the arms of my companion held 
me till 1 recovered somewhat. Suddenly a boat 
drew up, rowed by a disguised man. W e got into 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


99 


it, my new friend took the ropes, the man in the 
boat pushed off, and we soon had the fortress of 
Peter and Paul behind us. 

“We rowed thus about an hour, taking the job 
by turns, and then we landed near the galley- 
port. The unknown man and I left the boat, 
and I was about to thank him, when he waved 
me aside, saying sweetly : ‘ Here we part. At 
the proper time you ^will see me again. Till 
then, you will receive my orders written in a 
backhand and signed ‘/.’ If you want me urgently, 
put a bit of paper under the left hind foot of the 
horse of Peter the Great in the Alexander Gar- 
dens. And if doubts and difficulties arise about 
me, let me know in the same way, and most 
assuredly you will see me four weeks later 
appearing before you all. Now, farewell!’ 

“ He embraced me once more, pressed a 
pocket-book into my hand, jumped into the boat, 
and was gone.” 

Deep silence followed Mirow’s story. The 
mystery had seized upon them all and moved 
them deeply. Mirow passed his hand over his 
eyes and then said in a very different voice : 
“ This brother in blood of mine has since that 
time done us such invaluable services and proved 


100 


ALL OR NOTHINO. 


SO faithful and powerful a brother, that the com- 
mittee unanimously chose him our leader. Are 
you satisfied, Adler?” 

The man uttered some indistinct sounds and 
sat down quietly. 

Then Sophie Perowsha’s bell-like voice broke 
the silence : “ Is it really impossible to attain 
our end without shedding blood? I do not see 
the necessity of political murders. Those that 
seize the sword, perish by the sword !” 

But,” cried Turin, savagely, “ it is also said : 
‘ An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth !’ ” 

Death to tyrants,’ ever was the motto of all 
who have fought for Liberty !” said Adler. 
“ Only over the body of the Czar can we hope 
to reach victory.” 

A stormy debate followed and the assembly 
became passionately excited ; Sophie adhering 
to her peaceful views, others inveighing against 
all but bloody revolution. 

At last some semblance of quiet was restored, 
when Shell announced that the new policy 
required a new organization. A committee of 
three members, who should themselves fill any 
vacancy that might arise, and who must reside 
in St. Petersburg, was endowed supreme execu- 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


101 


live powers. Mirow, Micliaelow and Fomenko, 
an ill-looking student, were elected members of 
this supreme authority, and Mirow and Morosow 
appointed editors of their journal, Our Country 
and Freedom. 

It began to dawn before all business was fin- 
ished, and Shell advised the members to adjourn. 
The majority, however, preferred remaining 
where the\^ were and to enjoy a few hours rest 
on their host’s warm stove-benches. A few, and 
among them Sophie Perowsha, returned to the 
hotels where they had taken rooms. She was 
the last to leave the blacksmith’s house, wrapped 
herself shivering in her furs, and was walking rap- 
idly towards the gate of the court-yard. Here 
Shell suddenly joined her, as if it were his incon- 
testable privilege, and escorted her to town. The 
wind had risen towards morning, driving off 
the rain clouds and sweeping over fields and 
meadows. All nature was in gray and did not 
promise a. pleasant day, but in the hearts of the 
two young people there was a bright sun, a 
warm summer and a great happiness. They felt 
that their hearts, already attracted mutually in 
Moscow, had here become one, and the moment 
had arrived when their fate was to be decided. 


102 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


But they were too happy to speak and walked 
silently to the hotel ; only when they were stand- 
ing at the door that was to part them again — for 
who could tell how long? — Shell found voice to 
ask: “ Did I speak so badly to-night, that you 
have not a word of applause — and yet I spoke 
for you alone !” 

“ I knew that, and therefore I waited till we 
were alone !” She drew close to him and looked 
tenderly up at him ; then she suddenly wound 
both her arms around his neck, her ardent heart 
beat on his breast and glowing, fiery kisses cov- 
ered his lips. “ You are the noblest, most glori- 
ous, the wisest and best of men !” she whispered 
exuUingly into his ear; then she tore herself 
from him, entered a side-door of the hotel, with- 
out looking back once, and — was gone! 

Shell followed her with his eyes beaming with 
happiness. “ Sleep sweetly, my only one !” he 
called out into the morning dawn, and pulled his 
hat from his head to wave it up at her windows. 
Truly strange was the dualism in this young 
man’s nature as he, with bare head, in spite of 
the chilling morning breeze, walked proudly and 
happily into the park, no longer the stern, inex- 
orable leader of bloodthirsty Nihilists, but the 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


103 


hot-blooded young man, whose longing heart 
beat for love, while his youthful head was full of 
schemes and devices for wondrous happiness to 
be bestowed upon all mankind. 

Sophie had hastened to reach her modest 
home, and here she wept hot tears of joy and 
unspeakable bliss. “Oh, little mother, if you 
could know how happy your child is!” she 
called out, and buried her blushing face in the 
pillows. Then Nature asserted her rights and 
she fell asleep. 

She did not long enjoy the rest she needed so 
much. Happy dreams were followed by fearful 
dreams ; she saw terrible scenes enacted ; men 
tortured, women chastised, children even beaten 
cruelly, till at last she could bear the anguish no 
longer and awoke with a cry that pierced her 
own heart. 

As she arose from her bed, she felt saddened 
by a mysterious, indescribable woe, and she 
looked anxiously around her. It was bright day, 
and the morning sun, having triumphantly 
pierced the dark clouds, looked cheerful and 
kindly in at the window. “ It was a foolish 
dream,” ihe young girl said to herself, and once 
more buried her little head in the soft- pillow. 


104 : 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Now firm and dreamless sleep came to the rescue 
and made her forget the world and its ills. 


CHAPTER VII. 

In Woronesh, the capital of the province of 
that name, great and very unusual activity filled 
the streets. Several regiments had come back 
from Armenia, where they had been in garrison, 
and a number of men, having obtained leave of 
absence, were preparing to return home. Others 
saw themselves surrounded by friends and rela- 
tives, who had brought their horses and carts to 
carry their kinsmen to their native villages. 
But first, of course, the reunion after so long an 
absence, had to be duly celebrated by abundant 
feasting and drinking. All the hotels and inns 
were filled to overflowing, the streets crowded 
with men, women and children, who sang and 
laughed and cried with wild delight. 

Two men, who had just arrived by the Moscow 
train, were watching the pleasing sight with deep 
interest. One of them, a short, thickset man 
with black hair and beard, looked like a small 
landowner or farmer, and said : “ How lucky it 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


105 


is that to-day so many harmless people are assem- 
bled here — this diminishes the danger for our 
brethren The other man, a very light blonde 
in student’s costume, and evidently a son of the 
far North, nodded, remarking : “ Chance favors 
us wonderfull}^ We must be near the place. 
Do you know the address quite correctly ?” 

“ The last garden-house on the road to Seml- 
jansk,” replied Stephan, and addressing a little 
peasant who came from the opposite direction : 
“ Eh, my friend, is this the road to Semljansk ?” 

The man said “ Yes!” and the two friends con- 
tinued their way till they reached the last houses 
of the suburb. On the right there was a large 
orchard surrounded by a low wooden fence ; 
back of it they saw a long, one-storied house that 
seemed to shelter men and cattle alike. Close 
behind the building the river Woronesh flowed 
by, and beyond, vast tilled fields extended. 

“ This must be the place,” said Stephan, and 
stepping up to the fence he saw in the garden a 
bent old woman, busily weeding. When she 
noticed the two young men she came toddling up 
to them, crying out : “ Walk in ! walk in, gentle- 
men 1 I’ll open the gate directly. You surely 
come to see Sophie lljinisha!” 


106 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


As the men assented, she tripped as fast as her 
weak, old feet would carry her, to the gate, chat- 
ing all her time: “Sonitchka came early this 
morning — and how she kissed and caressed me ! 
the darling child! She was amazed to find the 
other gentlemen already assembled !” 

The three soon reached the house and a door, 
behind which loud speaking could be heard 
within. The old woman opened the door and 
revealed to the newcomers a vast room, which 
was full to overflowing. There were some 
eighty men and women present ; most of whom 
showed in their heated faces and fiery eyes, that 
they had been engaged in very animated dis- 
cussion. 

Shell was standing on a chair, with wrathful 
eyes, and had just concluded a fiery speech. 

When Stephan and his friend entered, a sigh 
of relief arose in all parts of the hall, and several 
voices exclaimed : “ At last !” 

Shell, however, did not mind the interrup- 
tion ; he raised his voice and said emphatically : 
“ If I have not convinced you, 1 pity you, for you 
will find out that I was right. We must 
employ all means to reach the end ; even political 
murder, when it must be!' Our motto is no 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


107 


longer: ‘ Enlightenment and Culture!’ but ‘Ter 
ror and Fear !’ Only terror leads to Freedom !” 

The orator, who had spoken with great 
emphasis, jumped down from his chair, and a 
tumult arose in the hall. All cried out, some 
applauding, other condemning ; many crying 
“ Bravo !” and clapping their hands, many more 
apparently, hissing, whistling and stamping. 
The two newcomers had been told what was 
under discussion, and Axel exclaimed with his 
clear, penetrating voice : 

“ Are we Socialists or Jacobins? Do w^e aim 
at reforming the State and leading the people, 
by civilization to moral and political freedom, or 
do we want to upset all government, to shed 
blood and to ruin our country by Civil War? 
It is perfectly immaterial to us who reigns. The 
Czars have from time immemorial sprung from 
the people, and always they have relied on the 
people. Only by such means as we who are 
lovers of peace advocate, can we hope to secure 
equal social and political rights for all and to 
change slaves into free men !” 

Once more the tumult arose. Applause and 
dissent produced a real chaos. “ Stephan 1 
Stephan !” many cried. 


108 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Placing himself in the center of the hall he 
spoke thus : “ Brethren ! Do not let yourselves 
be misled and carried away to rash action ! 
Never yet have Civil War and murder made 
people happy ! Never yet has a good aim 
sanctified sinful means ! And political murder is 
a sinful means! Government persecutes and mur- 
ders us — that is true; but is that a reason why 
we should do the same, return evil for evil?” 
What we need are not weapons and a Reign of 
Terror, but brave perseverance. Our cause is 
a sacred cause and must be victorious. Daggers 
and revolvers harm the owner much more than 
the enemy. Indefatigable work, by written 
word and by spoken word, must prepare the 
masses for the day of freedom, the whole nation 
for the blessings of Socialism ! 

“ And what can the murder of this or that high 
official avail us? What tlie death of the Czar 
himself? A new Czar replaces the old Czar, the 
body of every murdered official brings forth ten 
new officials, and terror will rage, till no man 
will any longer dare adopt our cause! Our 
numbers are small, our means very limited ; our 
enemies have an immense majority, and money, 
talent and prestige in abundance on their side. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


109 


Let us remain what — God be thanked ! — we still 
are : a community of brethren, who aspire 
towards the same noble aim with energy and 
perseverance, but with unstained hands, and who 
know but one bond that binds us to each other 
— Common Labor!” 

But the wise words of the entluisiastic speaker 
found no echo in the hearts of the excited 
assembly. He and his followers were denounced 
as dreamers and mere theorists, and when Shell, 
in his turn, jumped upon a chair and called upon 
his friends to rally around him, while Stephan 
summoned all his adherents, the excitement 
became intense and the uproar immense. It 
soon became evident that the red flag had a 
large majority on its side, and Shell, in the bit- 
terness of his heart, withdrew to a chair in the 
window-recess, from which he could look into 
the garden. Suddenly, two soft arms met around 
his neck and pressed it gently ; warm feelings 
crept into his bitter soul, but he did not turn 
round, he was content to bend his head and to 
kiss the slender, rosy fingers that crossed each 
other on his breast. 

At this moment, and before the efforts of 
Michaelow and others to restore peace had led 


110 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


to any results, the old woman, Ickaterina, the 
owner of the house and formerly Sophie’s nurse, 
appeared at the door, courtesied in her old-fash- 
ioned manner and called for Sophie. 

The latter left Shell and came at once to her. 

“ What is it, little mother?” 

“ Sonishka, my child,” replied the other, “ I 
have just now received this note for one whom 
they call Sasha.” 

With these words, she handed the lady a small 
note, which made Sophie, as soon as she cast a 
look upon the address, turn pale and exclaim : 
“From Him r Then she asked the nurse to 
wait for her, and drawing Sasha aside, gave him 
the letter. Michaelow opened it and in his turn 
grew pale. Instantly he rushed to the centre of 
the room, and called out aloud: “Brethren! 
Companions ! we are betrayed. The police are 
now on the way here ; we must flee instantly !” 

These words fell like a flash of lightning into 
the assembly. Shell alone stood quiet, his arms 
crossed over his breast, and laughing scornfully. 
Then Sophie, Perowsha raised her silver voice, 
and cried : “ Be quiet! I have foreseen the case 
and prepared everything. The house has an out- 
let upon the river that is carefully hidden ; a few 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Ill 


steps lead down to the embankment. Along the 
river a footpath runs, leading to an island, Irom 
which you can easily scatter in all directions 
and reach several streets. The city is full of 
strangers and of peasants, and once there, no one 
will suspect you. Quick ! Clear the room and 
follow me. I’ll show you the way !” 

Sophie’s calmness affected the others; chairs 
and tables were put in their places, the windows 
opened to let the smoke out, and soon every 
trace of the meeting had disappeared. Shell 
was the last to leave the room. As Sophie 
passed her old nurse, who stood aghast, she told 
her: “If the police come, you know nothing! 
Do you hear? ‘ You have not seen anybody here 
for months!’ My life depends on your silence, 
dear little mother ! ’’ 

The old woman smiled cunningly. “ Why 
should 1 talk? Old Ickaterina is nearly bind and 
nearly deaf; she knows nothing !” 

Sophie hurried to the door on the opposite 
side of the hall, opened it, and sprang down the 
few steps that led to the ground-floor. Then, 
lighting a match, she showed her friends a ladder 
which reached from the empty stable, in which 
they found themselves, to be garret. All fol- 


112 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


lowed her. Once in the garret, she ran to tlie 
wall in the rear and moved some planks which 
were not fastened, but opened an outlet, for- 
merly used to dispose of the offal of the stable. 
A fresh air entered the stable, and the splashing 
of water was heard, while the bright stars were 
shining on the evening sky. There was barely 
light enough to enable one after the other to 
press through the narrow opening ; then they 
climbed down the steps, and soon the footpath 
that ran along the river-bank showed a long row 
of pedestrians, whom the steep high bank con- 
cealed from all curious eyes. 

Sophie and Shell were the last in the stable. 
“ Well, Andrej, out with you !” she cried. 

“And you ?” he asked in astonishment. 

“ Somebody must replace these planks !” she 
replied simply. 

Shell silently stepped up to the wall and 
pushed the planks in their place. “ What are 
you doing, Andrej?” Sophie asked anxiously. 
“ How will you get out now ?” 

“ Never, without you !” 

No reply came ; but from the garden the firm 
step of the patrol could be distinctly heard; it 
was high time for the two to save themselves. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


113 


“ Follow me !” whispered Sophie; and took his 
hand. She hastened towards the door leading 
to the hall, but it was too late ; the officer 
ordered his men to surround the house on all 
sides ! 

It was a critical moment for the great Chief of 
the Nihilists and his companion! Sophie acci- 
dentally knocked against a ladder, and this sug- 
gested a happy thought to her. “ Up there, 
Andrejl’ she whispered. “I’ll climb up first, 
you follow me !” 

Lightly and noiselessly they climbed up and 
found themselves in a low garret space under 
the roof. Shell bent over the edge, for it 
extended only half way'^over the house, and 
looked into the empty stables. Strong hands 
were knocking at the house-door, and the fugi- 
tive profited by the noise to pull up the ladder 
quick as lightning, and then he sat down by 
Sophie to wait for what might come. 

Old Ickaterina had carefully locked the house- 
door as soon as the conspirators had left the hall, 
and when they had knocked at the door, she pre- 
tended not to hear. But when the impatient 
knocking changed into thundering blows, and 
people drummed upon the window-panes, she 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


lU 

began to rub her eyes, as if just awakening, and 
then squealed: “Why! 1 am coming ! Who is 
there? What do you want of old Ickaterina?” 

“ Open !’’ answered a rough male voice, “ in the 
name of the Czar !” 

“ Need not appeal to the Czar to get speech 
with old Ickaterina!” she cried, indignantly, and 
turned the key. In the door appeared an officer 
of police, several policemen and an army officer. 

Ickaterina started back. She crossed herself, 
and called out : “Great God! what has hap- 
pened? Oh, the honor! The honor of such a 
visit! Must 1 live to see such honor doife to 
me !” 

“ Don’t play the fool,” rudely addressed her 
the officer, who seemed to be in command. 
“ Where are all the Nihilists that meet here?” 

Ickaterina pretended not to hear, and asked : 
“ What is it you ask, sir ?” 

“ Are you deaf, old witch ?” asked the police- 
officer. “ I ask you — who is concealed here ?” 

“God forbid that there should be any one con- 
cealed here!” whined the old woman, crossing 
•herself. “ My eyes are weak, and 1 do not hear 
very well, but I have heard and seen nobody. 
We are all sinners before the Lord, but I will 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


115 


drop into my grave this instant, if I have ever 
concealed anyone in all my life !” 

The two officials looked at each other — the 
army officer laughing at the disappointment of 
the police. 

“ Hand that lamp here and go ahead !" said the 
latter to Ickaterina. “ We will examine the house, 
and woe is you if we find anyone!’’ 

He took the lamp and pushed the old lady 
before him. The others followed, and thus they 
searched the whole house, went into every room 
and chamber, even into the kitchen and pantry, 
but without finding anything that looked suspic- 
ious. Then they returned into the hall, and 
here they noticed the door that led to the stables 
and stood open. 

“ What door is this?” asked the officer. 

“ What door can it be ?” the old woman whined, 
piteously, looking the very picture of aggrieved 
innocence. “The stable-door, little father, that 
is what it is. Go in yourself, dear old father; 
you will see it is the stable! It is empty, and I 
have not been there for many months.” 

The policeman held his lantern on high, to 
light up the stable. At a glance it was seen that 
nobody could be concealed here, and the light 


116 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


was not sufficient to enable anyone to see the 
dark opening into the garret. 

“ We have been duped once more!” said the 
police-officer; ‘Hhey are the devil’s own brats!” 

“ I thought from the first it was a canard !" 
sneered the soldier. 

The other man tried to take it lightly. “ Here, 
old woman!” he said to Ickaterina, “ take your 
lamp, and mind never to receive those rascals in 
your house again ! This time they have escaped 
us, but we shall keep an eye on you hereafter !” 

A few minutes later the patrol marched back 
again to town, leaving no one behind. 

Shell and Sophie had heard every word that 
was spoken, and found it difficult to keep from 
laughing out aloud. When they -found that all 
was still, they came down the ladder, but when 
these two appeared in the door of the big room, 
laughing heartily, poor old Ickaterina was nearly 
overcome by sudden terror. She crossed herself 
again and again, and said : “ Oh, God ! oh, God i 
How’ could you cause me such a terrible fright! 
Sonishka, I thought you were gone, never to 
come back again ! If they had found you ! Great 
God! What anxiety I have endured on your 
account !” 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


117 


Sophie embraced and kissed the dear, old 
nurse on her mouth, her forehead and her eyes, 
and made her very happy. “You did that splen- 
didly,” she said to her; “you have hoodwinked 
the great Czar's Imperial Police! Do you not 
feel proud? And all for your own child’s sake! 
That was well done, Ickaterinushka !” and then 
she disrespectfully seized the old lady by her 
shoulders and turned her round and round. 

“ Stop ! stop !” cried the poor old woman. 
“You make me giddy ! How can anybody be so 
foolish from mere gayety. Ah ! I feel quite 
weak,” and she fell into the easy-chair, into 
which Sophie pressed her, and laughed with 
delight. 

Shell declared he must go to catch the express 
train for St. Petersburg. In a week, he told 
Sophie, she must meet him there ; until then she 
had better stay with her old nurse and keep very 
quiet. She accompanied the beloved one into 
the garden, where they took tender leave. 
Then Shell leapt lightly over the fence, and 
soon vanished in the deep darkness. 

When he approached the first suburban 
houses, a long, broad-shouldered, disguised fig- 
ure left the wall of the nearest house and came 


118 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


to meet him. The faint light of the first petro- 
leum lamps of the city made the person look like 
a giant. Shell, to whom fear was unknown, still 
could not help shuddering an instant ; he stood 
still and prepared for an attack. 

“ Follow me, Andrej Shell !” said a deep, sono- 
rous voice; “ I have to speak to you.’' 

Shell was suddenly suspicious. “ I am not 
the man for whom you take me," he said defi- 
antly. “ Let me go on." 

He prepared to pass the unknown man, but 
the latter barred him the way. “ You must 
answer me," he said, in a voice of command. 
“ Do not attempt to defy me !" 

Shell’s hot blood began to boil over. “ 1 an- 
swer no one whom I do not know," he replied 
fiercely. “ Out of my way, I tell you !" and he 
tried to push the man aside. 

A heavy hand was laid on his shoulder. “ Do 
not force me, boy, to use violence. I only wish 
you well !" 

Shell did not hear the last words. Wild rage 
overcame him. He shook the hand of the stranger 
from his shoulder by a violent jerk, and gave 
him a heavy blow on the chest. But the un- 
known man did not yield a hair’s breadth, he 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


119 


stood iike a stone wall, and two hands raised 
Shell’s arms and pressed them as in a vice to- 
gether. 

A short, desperate struggle followed. Shell 
for a moment freed himself ; he leaped at the 
throat of the unknown enemy like a tiger at 
his prey, tore his cloak from his throat and fas- 
tened his fingers in his cravat. Then a blow 
with the fist fell upon his face ; his eyes saw 
flashes, of light ; he felt how his adversary seized 
him with both arms, raised him from the ground 
and whirled him around. The cravat gave way ; 
it broke and remained with other fragments in 
his hand. Then he was hurled sideways ; he 
fell and lost his consciousness. But only for a 
moment. The next he jumped up and prepared 
to renew the attack — but the unknown had dis- 
appeared ! 

Shell was furious; he could hardly breathe, 
and all around him there was nothing but silent, 
impenetrable and uncanny darkness. All his 
limbs pained, his face was burning, his ears full 
of humming noises. Several minutes passed 
before he quite recovered ; he could hardly pick 
up his hat that had fallen down during the strug- 
gle, and then he slowly walked on. In his right 


120 


ALL OK NOTHING. 


hand he felt something hard. “ Perhaps it will 
help me to discover the rascal I” he said, and 
stopped at the first street lamp to see what it 
was. He found a little strip of the cravat, a bent 
gold button, and a piece of a fine gold chain to 
which a larger gold circle was attached. He 
examined the latter and found it looked like a 
thin, flat wedding-ring, with a few words en- 
graven on the inside. Suddenly the outline of 
his mysterious aggressor appeared once more 
before his mind’s eye, and a bright thought 
flashed through his mind. “ How could I be so 
blind !” he said to himself ; “ that was no other 
than He — Mirow’s brother by blood covenant !” 

He paused a few minutes, undecided, and 
gnawed his underlip in his vexation ; then he 
carefully put away his booty, cleansed his 
clothes from dust and tried to smooth his hair 
and his beard that had been dishevelled during 
the fight. “ 1 shall keep the ring as a sacred 
treasure,” he said, hastening towards the railway 
station as quickly as his sore limbs would allow 
him to walk. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

The captain of gendarmes, Likin, left on the 
forenoon of a hot July day the house of the Gov- 
ernor in Riazan ; he was in full uniform and 
descended the steps leading to the street with 
ringing spurs. Then he fastened his sabre, and 
looked at the houses opposite, as if uncertain in 
what direction he should proceed. At last he 
turned to the right and went towards the prom- 
enade, which showed its green tree-tops in that 
direction. By chance his eye fell upon a jewel- 
ler’s shop ; he hesitated a moment and then reso- 
lutely went in. “ My ring is not the genuine 
ring,” he said to himself, “ but a copy is under the 
circumstances as good — witness the false image 
of the Mother of God from Iberia in Moscow!” 
he added ironically. “ Besides, did not old 

[I2lj 


ALL OR NOTHINO. 


m 

Tatjana predict that I should be fortunate as 
long as I bore the ring on my body !” 

Five minutes later he came out again, looking 
well pleased. He now crossed the Promenade and 
hurried over to the grand hotel, in which he had 
secured rooms. Before the wide-open portals, 
adorned on both sides with blooming oleanders, 
the portier was standing, an old, sunburnt Tartar, 
with short-cut hair, black beard and small, cun- 
ning e^^es. 

“ How far is it to Dulino?” asked the captain. 

“Perhaps thirty versts! It takes two good 
hours to drive out there 

Likin looked at his watch. It was a little after 
twelve; he had therefore full two hours’ time 
before starting, if he wished to reach there just 
in time for dinner. “ Can you get me a decent 
carriage and horses ?” he asked. 

“ We keep both at the hotel,” was the answer. 

“Well, then — 1 want to leave the house pre- 
cisely at three o’clock; the coachman will have 
to return without me. Give me my key and 
send my servant up !” 

Likin went up the thickly carpeted staircase 
to his rooms in the second, the best story. Here 
he unbuttoned his uniform and threw himself 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


123 


upon a comfortable lounge, covered with black 
leather. The room was pleasantly cool ; the 
windows looking northward admitted a fresh, 
cool air, and the closed green blinds produced 
an agreeable twilight — the noise of the city did 
not reach here. Likin had been travelling all 
night and needed rest. The door opened silently 
and his old servant Ivan appeared. He hesitated 
a moment, looking at his master. 

“We shall start at three to go into the coun- 
try, Ivan,” the captain called out to him. “ Get 
me four handsome bouquets, two of yellow roses 
and two of red and white roses each, and have 
them well packed in close boxes. Then go across 
to the jeweller’s shop and bring me what he will 
give you for me. It is paid. 1 shall take a trunk. 
Do you understand?” 

“ Aye ! aye. Captain 

“ At two you can wake me, Ivan. Till then I 
do not want to be disturbed. Do you hear?” He 
put his arms, crossed, under his head, closed his 
eyes and was soon asleep. 

Ivan nodded, cast an affectionate look at his 
master, and left the room as silently as he had 
come. He knew he had the complete confidence 
of his master, and he always carried out his 


124 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


orders in perfect silence, however strange they 
might seem to be at times. 

In his youth Ivan had been. a serf, belonging 
with his whole family to Captain Likin’s father ; 
and when the old gentleman had offered him his 
choice to go away, being his own master now, 
or to stay, he had fallen on his knees and instantly 
prayed to be allowed to remain what he hoped 
he had ever been : a faithful family servant. His 
present master he had held on his lap in his 
childhood; he had accompanied him to St. 
Petersburg and done his best to make life and 
the military service easy to the young lieutenant. 
He was attached to him with his whole heart, 
and he felt, in return, that Likin appreciated his 
honesty and his devotion. 

Precisely at three o’clock a light vehicle was 
standing at the door of the hotel. The coach- 
man had trouble to hold-in the three fiery horses, 
who impatiently shook their tinkling bells and 
champed their bits, covering them with white 
foam. How he talked to them ! giving them 
their names and all possible terms of affec- 
tion and tenderness. The trunk was fastened 
behind and Ivan stood at the door waiting for 
his master. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


125 


Now Likin appeared in a light colored dust- 
mantle thrown over his brilliant uniform ; the 
head-waiter and the portier bowed humbly, 
showing that the departing guest had been lib- 
eral in his fees. 

“ Shall the room be kept for you ?” asked the 
head-waiter. 

“ No. 1 do not know how long I may remain 
at Dulino,” was the answer. 

Ivan closed the door of the carriage when his 
master was seated, and vaulted into the seat by 
the coachman. They drove down a number of 
broad, fine streets and soon the last houses of the 
town were left behind by the three swift horses. 
Now right and left vast fields of wheat and oats 
extended to the horizon. The heat was oppres- 
sive, the dust almost unbearable, and a burden 
seemed to weigh down the earth and all man- 
kind. Likin reclined in his comfortable troika. 
The monotony of the landscape, the soft rocking 
of the carriage, and the uniform tinkling of the 
horses’ bells combined to make him drowsy ; he 
drew his cloak closer around him against the 
dust, and soon was lost in dreams. 

His thoughts reverted contentedly to the 
remarkable success that had of late crowned all 


126 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


his efforts. Of course he had shown great 
energy and boldness, nor had he been wanting 
in prudence and in caution, but fortune also had 
favored him perseveringly. Was it not a mere 
lucky chance that General Drentelen, the head 
of the whole Imperial Police, must needs choose 
him among so many able men to organize a sys- 
tematic attack upon all revolutionary conspira- 
cies ? Was it not chance which thus gave him 
an insight into the most recondite secrets of 
Government, and with it a key to all the plans 
and projects of the men in power on the banks of 
the Neva ? 

And was it not chance which had so suddenly 
opened to him the road to another success at the 
place towards which his swift horses were carry- 
ing him just now } He knew that in Dulino the 
heart of the daughter of one of Russia’s greatest 
princes beat at the mention of his name. 

They approach a village. The three horses 
look as if they had passed through a deep river, 
and white flakes of foam cover their necks and 
chests, but they do not relax their speed for a 
moment. The golden grain-fields on both sides 
began to vary with emerald meadows, and here 
and there a small wood of deciduous trees became 


ALL OK NOTHING. 


m 

visible. The landscape sliowed wave-like, roll- 
ing plains, and behind a slight hill the golden 
crop and green, onion-shaped cupola of a coun- 
try church appeared at a distance. 

“ Is that Dulino?” the captain asked. 

“ Yes, Sir,” answered the coachman, turning 
round. “ On the right, in the low grounds, there 
is the village. Before us stands the church ; close 
behind it, in the middle of that oak-forest is the 
estate.” He turned his attention again to his 
horses. 

The carriage now left the high-road and turned 
into a beautiful avenue of white-stemmed birch- 
trees. They crossed a bridge which led over the 
playful waters of a creek, and soon they reached 
the church. Behind the pleasing structure, in a 
well-kept orchard, they saw the pope’s house 
standing, a handsome, single-storied building ; a 
magnificent forest of ancient oak-trees formed a 
noble background. 

The avenue of birches ended abruptly, and the 
road entered the forest. When the cool shade of 
the fine old trees received the traveler, he threw 
off his dust-cloak and bent out to look for the 
buildings. After a few minutes they reached a 
large clearing, which contained within an im- 


128 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


mense, close hawthorn hedge, the farm buildings 
of the estate. On the right hand, surrounded by 
a kind of park, arose the owner’s house, a large, 
two-storied structure. The carriage passed 
between two- enormous obelisks of wood that 
formed a gate, took the road that led across an 
immense lawn to the main building, and stopped 
at last before a kind of veranda in the rear of the 
palace. 

The bells of the horses had caused some stir 
in the place, which seemed to have been indulg- 
ing a siesta ; in the doors of the farm buildings 
servants and laborers appeared. A leash of 
gigantic wolf-hounds rushed, fiercely barking, 
from the stables to meet the newcomers, and 
even behind the wJiite shades of the palace a few 
curious heads became visible. 

Before Likin could get out, the head-steward, 
a venerable, hoary-headed old man, appeared at 
the door in full evening costume, comprehend- 
ing at once that he must have to do with a friend 
of the family, who would probably claim the 
prince’s hospitality for some time, as his trunk 
seemed to indicate. He came, therefore, respect- 
fully forward to welcome his master’s guest. 





I.IKt.V UAISIXG ANNA INTO THK AIR .— Varje 140 




4 



ALL OR NOTHING. 


129 


“ His Serene Highness will be glad to see you ; 
permit me to show you the reception-room." 

Likin returned the greeting, and beckoning 
Ivan to follow him, he went with the major- 
domo up a broad wooden staircase to the second 
story, where he was offered a small but cheer- 
ful room with a vievv upon the park. 

“ Dinner will be in a quarter of an hour," said 
the man. “ Whom may 1 announce to His 
Highness." 

“Gregory Petrowitch Likin, Captain in His 
Majesty’s Corps of Gendarmes. Present my 
respects to the prince — and take these flowers to 
the ladies !" 

Likin pointed at the two superb bouquets of 
roses, which Ivan, knowing his master’s ways, 
had at once drawn from their boxes. The 
steward took the flowers, bowed and disap- 
peared. 

Likin dressed quickly, and leaving Ivan to his 
fate, he went downstairs, where he found the 
steward waiting for him to show him into a 
simply furnished room, and here the whole 
family was assembled. 

They met him with great cordiality, and he 
was delighted to see his bouquets in the hands 


130 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


of the ladies and — just as he had hoped it might 
be — the red roses in the hands of Princess Anna. 
They chatted a few minutes, during which Likin 
narrated his traveling adventures and learnt, in 
return, that Prince Peter, the son of the old 
gentleman, was expected on the morrow. Then 
they went into the dining-room, where they 
were met by a stout, elderly lady with brilliant 
eyes and a long, pointed nose, in curious contrast 
with the face, in which every other feature 
was round and soft. This was Mademoiselle 
Desjardins, who had been Anna’s and Plena’s 
governess in former years, and now continued 
to live at Dulino, where she was treated exactly 
like a member of the family. 

Dinner passed as such ceremonies pass every- 
where, and the old lady was glad to see during 
the somewhat lengthened meal, that her proU^e 
of the gendarmes turned out to be an admirable 
raconteur. During the dessert an excursion was 
planned : they would visit an out-lying farm in 
the cool of the evening, and enjoy the drive 
through the dense forest. The young people 
were to go on horseback, the older ladies in 
hunting-carriages, and the prince would stay at 
home, to consult with his steward, he said, but 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


131 


in reality to enjoy his ease on his sofa and to 
dream. 

After dinner the company scattered and Likin 
was left to himself after the Prince had once 
more shaken hands with him and thanked him 
for the pleasure of his visit. He stepped outside 
on the veranda, which was covered with rare 
plants and exotics. Tables and chairs of every 
shape and variety showed that in fair weather 
the family was wont to spend much time here, 
reading newspapers or books, writing letters 
and, no doubt, dozing sweetly. In front of the 
veranda the garden extended until it was lost in 
the forest. The sun had sunk low by this time 
and the air was saturated with the perfume of 
flowers and the fragrance of the forest. All was 
breathing repose and peace. 

Likin went down into the garden and from 
thence into a beautiful avenue of fine linden-trees, 
which seemed to be endless. The meeting with 
Anna had made, a deep impression upon him ; 
she had seemed to be fairer and fresher than in 
Moscow, and he had found it difficult to take his 
eyes from the ravishing form and the attractive 
features, so full of life and meaning. It had 
gratified him immensely that she was evidentl}^ 


132 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


still subject to the unconscious charm which he 
had, from the first, woven around her. More 
than once their eyes had met at table ; more than 
once she had hid her face in her bouquet, to con- 
ceal the blushes he had called forth, and all the 
time he had noticed the efforts she had made to 
appear indifferent. 

“Did he really love the princess?” Captain 
Likin asked himself, and shook his head. No ! 
Certainly not with the same fervor with which he 
had, time ago, loved Marja, when he pressed her 
to his heart. How long ago that was, however ! 
And yet he felt strongly now also; he knew 
his feelings were soon to blaze up into a passion 
— and then? But was it true love he felt^ 
Unmixed with covetousness? He hoped so ; for 
from the first he had noticed in her an unusual 
independence of mind and a character very near 
akin to his own. He had instantly foreseen and 
clearly discerned what immense advantages he 
would derive from such a union ! Yes, she must 
be his, at any cost, at any risk! He must make 
her his own, and should Heaven and Hell oppose 
his desire ! 

He was so absorbed in these powerful emo- 
tions that he started when his name was called 


ALL OR NOTHING, 


133 


out behind him. He turned round, and there 
was she herself, at the end of the avenue ! She 
was wearing a black riding-habit and held the 
long train on her left arm. The tall hat with the 
green veil was exceeding!}" becoming to her; 
with her right hand, in which she was holding a 
riding-whip, she now beckoned to him. He 
hastened to obey her call, and when he came 
nearer he saw with intense joy, that the only 
ornament she wore, was one of his red roses. 

“We are about to start!” she called out to 
him ; “ the horses are all ready. I was the first to 
come down and so I undertook to call you ; we 
guessed you would be in the garden.” 

“ Pardon me. Princess, for giving you this 
trouble,” he answered, as he drew near to her ; 
“ but I cannot well blame myself for having 
gone so far, as it has secured to me the pleasure 
of hearing my name uttered by your lips, and of 
being able to assure you how happy it makes me 
to meet you again so soon !” 

She cast down her eyes and tried to smooth 
the plaits of her dress. “ I was going to ask you 
at the same time to help me mount my gray ; he 
has been standing several days and is apt to for- 
get his good manners.” 


134 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Likin was not so easily turned aside from a 
purpose he had once formed. “ I shall be de- 
lighted to serve you,” he replied, but under one 
condition !” 

“ And what can that be ?” she answered, doubt- 
fully. 

“ That you give me the rose in your dress !” 

Anna blushed once more all over; then she 
slowly raised her long eyelashes, and her eyes 
met the ardent looks of the officer. She cast 
down her eyes instantly, and said : “ And if 1 

should be unwilling to give away this rose ? It 
came out of your bouquet; and in the next place, 
I do not reward services before they are ren- 
dered.” She quickly walked on, as if trying to 
get away from him. 

Likin’s eyes burnt with triumph. “ I am con- 
tent,” he said, “ but I beg you will not forget the 
condition !” 

She went hastily around the wing of the house 
to the court where the horses and carriages, mas- 
ters and servants, formed a picturesque scene. 

The princess with her daughter Sonia and 
Mademoiselle Desjardins were already seated in 
the open wagon ; Lena was just mounting a 
handsome horse, that was quietly standing near 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


135 


the steps, from which the ladies generally got on 
their horses. Two grooms were bringing up a 
sorrel, intended for the captain, and Anna’s gray, 
who seemed to be nervous and restless. 

“ Be careful, Annushka,” said the old princess, 
“your horse looks so wild to-day. I fear he will 
throw you !’’ 

Anna calmly nodded to her mother. “ Never 
mind, dearest Maman T' she said, with a face full 
of energy. “ I’ll manage him !“ Lena, who was 
now in the saddle, patted her bay horse on the 
neck and rode up to the carriage. The servants 
were carrying the steps to the gray, but could 
not get to his side, because he always shied and 
reared when they came near him. 

“ Take away the steps!’’ said Anna and went 
up to her horse. Likin, guessing her purpose, 
took his place by her side. She stroked the 
horse’s neck caressingly, cautiously seized the 
reins and, raising her left foot, looked at the cap- 
tain. 

He bent a little, slipping his left hand under 
her foot ; she firmly stepped on it ; he raised her 
like a feather, and the next instant she was in the 
saddle! Quick as lightning Likin pushed her 
foot into the stirrup-shoe, and the groom, at 


136 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Anna’s command, let go the surprised animal. 
The horse reared straight up and then made a 
mighty leap forward, but he found a master on 
his back. Anna sat like a centaur and in a few 
moments had the animal perfectly under her 
command. The anxious faces of the ladies in the 
carriage began to relax, and Natalie called out 
aloud : “ Bravo, Annushka !” 

Likin was instantly on his sorrel horse, and the 
whole company started. Anna had apparently 
on purpose joined Plena, and the two ladies took 
the lead, choosing a narrow road that led 
directly into the forest. Likin took his place 
near the open carriage, and devoted himself, for 
the time, to entertain the princess. 

It was a marvellously beautiful evening; the 
dense foliage of the old oak trees softened the 
heat of the rays of the setting sun, and produced 
a very agreeable twilight, which, with the pleas, 
ant coolness of the air, refreshed the senses and 
animated the spirits. When they came out of 
the forest and left the narrow road, the gallant 
captain dashed forward and overtook the young 
ladies. 

“ Does your horse obey now ?” he asked Anna. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


137 


Plena answered in her place, saying : “ He 

obeys, but he is unnaturally restless to-day.” 

Before them they saw on the other side of a 
ravine, the farm-buildings to which they were 
bound. The sun was sinking below the horizon 
and the whole landscape was bathed in golden 
reflexes of the evening glory. As the carriage 
came up, Anna asked her mother: “Are we 
going to get out ?” and as the princess declined, 
they all went up to the manager’s house, where 
some orders were to be left. 

At this moment a big dog came rushing out of 
the yard, barking furiously and frightening the 
horses. Anna’s gray jumped so suddenly aside, 
that he came near throwing down the much 
smaller bay horse of Princess Plena. Anna, not 
prepared for the sudden leap, lost her hold for 
a moment, and whether she drew the reins too 
suddenly, or happened to touch the animal’s 
flanks with her spurs, the horse reared, jumped 
sideways, so that the amazon lost the stirrup, 
and then dashed furiously back again into the 
forest. A threefold cry of horror arose from the 
carriage, and Plena cried out : “ Save her. Cap- 
tain ! save her !” 

Likin had not lost a moment. Even before 


138 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Plena’s appeal reached him he had already 
turned and put the spurs into his sorrel’s ill- 
used sides. The noble creature had first reared 
on high and then in mighty bounds followed the 
gray. Anna was an admirable horse-woman and 
did not lose her consciousness for an instant. 
She make several efforts to regain her stirrup 
and succeeded, almost the very moment, when 
Likin overtook her. She now was bending 
down upon the horse’s neck to protect her head 
and her hat from the low branches, and bent all 
her strength upon guiding her animal in its blind 
rage. She now felt almost happy, racing thus 
on a maddened horse, till the fire of her unhal- 
lowed passion should have subsided somewhat. 
Her soul had been in a state of fierce rebellion 
ever since that day’s interview with the bold 
captain. 

All of a sudden she wondered if Likin had fol- 
lowed her! She listened. Yes! She heard the 
beating of a horse’s hoofs on the hard soil. A 
feeling of blissful happiness filled her heart with 
ineffable delight ; she bent still lower, closing her 
eyes — now, let come what chose to come ! He 
rode the sorrel, the best horse in her father’s 
stables; if he were but bold enough, he must 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


139 


overtake her. Her heart beat tumultuously. 
No one should own her, she had often said to 
herself, but he who could conquer her. Let 
him show now what he could do! If he was the 
right man, whom Fate intended for her, he must 
overtake, he must save her! Now the sound 
came nearer and nearer; she could hear the 
blowing of his horse distinctly, and now, he 
called out to her in a cautious whisper: “ Hold 
on one minute longer, Anna! I am near you !” 

But her horse suddenly swerved sideways, 
back again into the forest. She was so violently 
shaken, she had to open her eyes. In spite of 
the faint light, she saw that her gray had taken 
a footpath which led straight to the gardens, and 
ended in a low gate in a hedge. The long, 
stretched-out head of the sorrel with its wide 
open nostrils nearly touched her saddle, and 
flakes of foam from his bit covered her riding, 
habit. 

And now she saw the hawthorn hedge before 
her and the low gate. There was more light 
here, and the road a little wider. “ Will the 
horse take the gate or swerve aside?” she asked 
herself. If he turned aside, she was lost ; the 
branches overhead would undoubtedly kill her 


140 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


instantly. She shuddered, closed her eyes once 
more, and ceased to think. 

Of a sudden, she felt a strong arm seizing her 
round the waist. A deep voice said : “ Let go 
the reins !” Her left hand opened instantly, the 
bridle dropped out of it, and the horse turned 
sharply to the right, to plunge into the pathless 
forest. Anna felt that she was for a moment 
hanging in the air, the next instant she was vio- 
lently thrown to the left, which caused her 
acute pain in both hips ; instantly there came 
a fearful flight through the air, after which she 
slowly sank down upon something soft and — she 
was unconscious ! 

Likin had, as soon as he was near enough to 
the princess, seized her with almost superhuman 
strength, resting the whole weight of his body 
on the left stirrup. Now all depended on the 
sorrel; and the noble animal fully justified 
Likin’s confidence. They were close by the 
little gate now. Likin gave the horse his spurs, 
and with both arms raised Anna high into the 
air. While the gray was turning to the right, 
plunging at oncelnto the woods, the sorrel made 
a tremendous effort and, with the double weight 
on his back, took the gate ! Then, the burden 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


141 


was too much for him, his forelegs gave way 
and he sank on his knees. Likin let Anna glide 
gently on the soft greensward and jumped down. 
The horse immediately rose again, feeling the 
welcome«relief, and stood by his side, trembling 
all over and covered with white foam. Likin, 
drawing breath with difficulty, anxiously bent 
over Anna : she was breathing feebly but calmly. 
He knelt down, gently raised her head, and 
rested it on his lap. After a few anxious minutes 
there came a long-drawn sigh and she opened 
her eyes. She saw his head directly above her 
own and met his anxiously inquiring looks. 
Then a happy smile illumined her face ; she 
raised both arms and wound them around his 
neck ; she drew him down and kissed him heart- 
ily. Then only she became conscious of the 
situation ; she let him go and drew herself up. 

“ Are you hurt, Anna,” he asked tenderly. 

She looked at him with eyes radiant with joy. 
Then she raised herself full on her feet, and 
now, once more, she embraced him rapturously. 
“You have saved my life, beloved one !” she 
breathed, “ it is yours henceforth !” And now she 
suddenly noticed that the red rose on her bosom 
was gone ; she looked around and there it lay ; 


142 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


she stooped to pick it up, and he made a silent 
gesture, asking for it. “ Not this one !” she said, 
gently waving him aside. The next moment she 
ran to a standard rose in a flower bed, pulled off 
a splendid, deep red flower, and hastening back 
to him, she said : “ Here, with this rose 1 give 
you my heart !” All of a sudden she turned 
crimson in her face, gathered her dress around 
her, laid one finger on her lips, as if commanding 
silence, cast one more look glowing with pas- 
sionate love at him, and ran towards the palace. 

Likin followed her with his eyes till she disap- 
peared. His heart, which he had thought he 
had tamed and silenced forever, beat tempestu- 
ously. This unreserved surrender had deepl}^ 
touched him, and made him aware of sentiments 
in his own heart, which he had thought long 
extinct. He kissed the rose again and again, 
and carefully hid it in his bosom. Then he 
turned his attention to the poor horse. The 
noble creature was still trembling and quivering 
all over. He caressed the proudly-arched neck, 
seized the bridle and slowly led him back to the 
house. Half way he met a servant, whom Anna 
had sent. He handed the horse over to him, 
instructing him to have him thoroughly rubbed 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


143 


down, and then walked up and down for several 
hours. Now he turned his steps towards the 
forest to meet the ladies on their return. He 
soon saw the carriage coining back as fast as 
the horses could draw it. When they met, he 
calmed the princess and the governess, briefly 
stating what had happened. Then he got in and 
patiently submitted to being overwhelmed with 
questions. 

Gradually all were subsiding again, and Plena, 
who had looked deadly pale, was merrily laugh- 
ing once more, when they drew up before the 
palace. They heard here, that the gray horse 
had made his appearance, but in a state of bloody 
scratches and wounds, which clearl}^ showed 
what dangers Anna had escaped, thanks to 
Likin’s remarkable presence of mind. 

Likin was still busy with his toilet, when 
somebody knocked at the door. It was the mas- 
ter of the house himself, who entered, crimson 
in his face, and his most engaging smile on his 
lips. “ How shall I thank you !” he exclaimed, 
shaking hands with the captain most heartily. 
“ You have saved the life of my only daughter. 
We are obliged to you our life long!” 

“ My merit is nothing in comparison with the 


144 : 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


brave spirit shown by the princess on her horse. 
But the prize is due to the sorrel; he is a truly 
magnificent horse !” 

Prince Michael smiled ; he was evidently 
much pleased. “ Yes,” he said, ‘‘ blood is blood !’ 
Then his face turned redder than before, and he 
continued in a louder voice : “ May I beg you 
will keep the sorrel in memory of this day ? I’ll 
send him to you, to St. Petersburg. Pray, do 
not say no !” 

Likin was surprised by this offer. A glance at 
the old prince’s honest eyes convinced him how- 
ever, that he had no afterthought, and was far 
from wishing to offend him. He, therefore, 
replied, after a moment’s pause: “Very well, 
Prince. I accept your valuable present and 
thank you heartily ; but you must allow me, 
some time or other, to take my revenge.” 

The Prince assented ; he was too happy to 
give his guest a real pleasure, without being 
misunderstood. Then the two men went out on 
the veranda, where tea was served. The ladies, 
however, were too tired to come out, and the 
men had a long and undisturbed conversation, 
which made them better friends than they could 
have become under other circumstances. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


145 


Next morning, before Likin had risen, a little 
note was handed him by Ivan, who had received 
it from Anna’s maid. He opened it quickly and 
read : 

** My beloved!' — 1 cannot possibly see you to- 
day in the presence of other people. My heart 
is too full ; it would betray itself. I pray, for the 
present do nothing, and guard our sweet secret! 
To-night, at one, I shall expect you in the Lin- 
den Avenue. With embraces and kisses, 

'‘Your A.” 

Gregory read the few lines, written in a firm 
hand, again and again ; then he carefully con- 
cealed the note and the rose which Anna had 
given him, in his pocket-book, and sent word by 
Ivan that he had to write important letters and 
would not come down-stairs till dinner-time. 
Then he completed his toilet, had his breakfast, 
and sat down at a little bureau near the open 
window. He had really a few letters to write 
and dispatched them leisurely. 



CHAPTER IX. 

It was an intensely hot forenoon, one of those 
summer days in Southern Russia, when the sun 
is burning in a cloudless sky and not a* breath of 
air ever refreshes nature, when the creeks dry 
up in the sandy bottoms and the black soil cracks 
in all directions, presenting vast yawning abys- 
ses. Life at Dulino bad hardly awaked in the 
morning, when it succumbed to the overwhelm- 
ing heat; everybody withdrew from all possible 
contact with others; even reading became a 
task and a labor. All were waiting in listless 
idleness, till the cooler afternoon-air should 
bring relief. Even at the dinner-table, where 
the Princess Anna did not appear, all were silent, 
and in vain were all efforts to revive the relaxed 
nerves by interesting conversation. Plena alone 
1146] 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


U7 


was perhaps even more restless and excited than 
usual ; she listened attentively whenever a noise 
arose in the court-yard or the garden, and when 
all was over, she did not disappear like the others, 
but went out on the veranda. Here she looked 
out for a well shaded corner, settled comfort- 
ably in an American rocking-chair, and pre- 
tended to read the last newspapers. But all her 
senses were bent on one point only : the arrival 
of a new guest. 

And really soon bells were heard tinkling and 
she knew that the carriage was returning which 
had been sent early in the morning to Riazan for 
Prince Peter. Then the joyous barking of the 
house-dogs told her that it was he and no stranger 
who was dashing up to the door at that moment. 
Well content, she did not jump up, but merely 
smiled, and now read seriously what was said in 
her journal. Still her keen ear lost nothing ; 
she heard how the newcomer greeted the ser- 
vants with his clear, ringing voice, and then 
raced up and down the steps to kiss the parents 
and his grandmother. Now she heard him enter 
the dining-room, and at last — at last ! he came 
out on the veranda ! 

She pretended not to see him, and yet there he 


148 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


was, Standing before her, fresh and youthful, the 
joy of meeting her shining in his eyes, and wear- 
ing his brilliant and becoming uniform. 

“ Good day, Flenushka !” he cried. “ Here 1 
am !” 

“ I see that,’' she replied laconically, giving 
him her left hand, but as he seized it to carry it 
to his lips, she quickly withdrew it. 

Peter’s cheerful face grew dark. “ Is that the 
way you welcome me ?” he asked angril}^ 
‘‘ You do not seem to have improved these six 
weeks that I have not seen you. Formerly you 
came running to welcome me, and I was permit- 
ted to kiss and embrace you.” 

“ It is your fault if things are no longer as they 
used to be between us,” she answered defiantly. 
“ How dare you ask me what you have done ! 
You have lost all the good opinion I ever had of 
you ! And after the unseemly offers you made 
me! You make me blush, Peter!” 

His indignation grew visibly. “You declare 
it unseeml}" when I tell you that I l.ove you and 
wish to marry you. That is all I have said, and 
that I mean to do.” 

“ And I have told you that I do not want 
you !” 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


149 


“ Am I not good enough for you ? Why will 
you not have me?” 

“ No. A man who is nothing but a poor, little 
lieutenant and does not aspire to being more 
than that all his life long, can never be my hus- 
band ! That much I owe to myself ! I have told 
you, I will not give my hand to any man who has 
not himself conquered a position in the world ; 
who has not done something good, something 
grand, of which the world is going to speak 
hereafter !” 

Peter was hesitating between anger, injured 
vanity and love. They had a regular quarrel : 
she, because she had gone too far at the beginning 
and did not know how to return to the beaten 
track ; he, because, brought back to his projects, 
he did not know whether she was really inter- 
ested in them or not. He therefore came close 
up to her, and in great excitement said : “ I will 
not reproach you for the ugly way in which you 
receive me, and the readiness with which you 
insulted me in my most sacred sentiments. You 
shall learn to know now, how unwise it is to 
reject a heart, and to wound it deeply, when it is 
offered at your shrine. What you demand of me 
is impossible — unless I join the Nihilists. I shall 


150 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


go, therefore, and yon shall not see me again till 
you come to me, asking my pardon, and begging 
me to give you that love which you to-day spurn 
so contemptuously !” 

He breathed deeply, his eyes flashed fire ; then 
he turned round and walked off into the house, 
without waiting for an answer. 

Plena followed him with her eyes ; she pressed 
with her hands on her stormy heart and took a 
few steps forward. Had she gone too far after 
all ? She wanted to call him — her voice refused 
to come. It was too late ! But — he would cer- 
tainly not leave Dulino ? Not drive away again 
without seeing his parents ? That could not be! 
But she doubted, she trembled. Throwing down 
her book, she wandered through room after 
room — no Peter! 

Peter had at once hurried to his father’s sanc- 
tum. He was resolved to go to extremes, to 
carry out what he had threatened to do in speak- 
ing to Plena. He found his father in the most 
absolute n^glig^—\n fact he had nothing but an 
airy calico wrapper — lying on his broad, old- 
fashioned lounge. All the curtains were down 
and the room so dark that Peter could only 
with difficulty get hold of a chair for himself. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


151 


** Father !” he began abruptly, 1 have a great 
favor to ask of you. I want your permission to 
quit the army and to go to some university. 
My wish is first to study agriculture theoretically 
and then, as a volunteer, practically on some 
great model-farm in Kiew or better still in Cour- 
land or Livonia.'* 

The old prince did not trust his ears. He 
raised himself and cried out in amazement: 
“ Wha-t? Quit the army ? Study ? Learn ag- 
riculture? Nonsense!” The smile died away 
on his thick lips and he sank back groaning : 
“ Uff! this heat I Fearful! And now this 
bother !” 

Peter stood by his guns. He told his father 
that he wished to help him in the management 
of his vast estates, and only asked leave to tit 
himself for the task. The old prince soon 
recovered his equanimity. “ Oh, certainly !” he 
said. “ I have no objection! You will be the 
owner of Dulino, of course, when 1 die. But why 
are you in such a desperate hurry?” 

Peter jumped up impetuously, and kissed his 
father’s hands. 

“ I thank you, dear father !” he cried. “ Par- 
don me, if I disturbed you ; but I want to lose no 


152 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


time, now that I have resolved what to do ! You 
surely have no objection to my sending in my 
resignation ?” 

“ None at all, my son ; but you had better talk 
the matter over with your Maman and Grand- 
maman. If they consent, let God do what is best 
for you !” 

Peter was restless and impatient ; he wanted 
to remove all obstacles, and immediately enter 
i.pon his new career. When the cool evening 
Uad assembled the whole family, the two young 
ladies alone excepted, everything had been 
settled to please Peter. The old princess alone 
had made a condition : her grandson was to 
spend a certain time at Court before burying 
himself in the country. She promised by me'ans 
of her high connections and influential friends, to 
procure for him the title of Chamberlain or some 
such dignity. 

And now, when Peter and Likin also had ex- 
changed greetings, and all were cosily chatting 
around the samowar, it was settled that Prince 
Peter should leave early the next morning for 
Moscow, arrange his affairs there, and then go 
to St. Petersburg and enter the university there. 
Although the parents parted regretfully with 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


153 


their only son, they saw how reasonable his 
eagerness was to begin his studies, and yielded 
as cheerfully as they could. But this impending 
separation, and the absence of the two young 
ladies, cast a shadow upon them all, which was 
not dispersed by Likin’s surprising declaration, 
that he would probably accompany Prince Peter. 
The latter was much surprised to hear with what 
sincere regret this announcement was received. 
He could not understand what importance the 
accidental visit of a captain of gendarmes could 
have for his father and the ladies! He still felt 
a certain prejudice against the officer, and to 
avoid witnessing more scenes of regret and sor- 
row, he declared that he must take a ride to cool 
his excited blood. The family soon heard the 
gallop of his horse, the barking of all the village 
dogs and some snatches of a merry song. 

It was eleven o’clock when Captain Likin took 
leave of the family and retired to his room, 
where Ivan held his black civilian costume 
ready for him. Then he quickly dressed, and 
from a box on his toilet-table drew a large black 
beard, a soft felt hat and a pair of high water- 
proof boots. He fastened the beard very care- 
fully, put on the broad-brimmed hat so low that 


154 


ALL Oi? NOTHING. 


no one could see more than his chin and mouth, 
and then ordered Ivan to put on him the dark 
Havelock, which he was holding ready. 

“ May I go too?” he asked most anxiously. 

“ Yes,” was the answer, but only for a short 
distance. We shall go towards the church. 
You will keep watch at the border of the forest, 
and as soon as I whistle, come to meet me as far 
as the Birch Avenue !” 

Ivan nodded silently and followed his master. 
Both walked cautiously down the long passage, 
then down the wide staircase and now paused, 
listening. The night was very dark, but the 
stars shone brightly and not a sound was heard. 

“ Where can the dogs be ?” Likin asked in a 
whisper. 

“They have followed the young prince, when 
he left!” answered Ivan. 

“ The prince has not returned yet?” 

“ No!” 

“ Very well, then follow me !” 

Both started on their mysterious errand. 
When they reached the edge of the forest, 
through which the road ran to the Birch Avenue, 
Likin bade the old man stand here and wait. 
“ If I whistle once, remember, you run as fast as 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


155 


you can, to the church ; if I whistle twice, you 
come and meet me slowly ; if three times, you 
disappear and cautiously return to the house 
and to your room !” 

Likin left Ivan and soon disappeared in the 
avenue of birch-trees. When he had reached the 
garden-wall he noticed the figure of a man con- 
trasting with the white-washed wall of the 
church, and said to himself : “ Sasha is punctual !” 
A few minutes later he stood as if risen out of the 
ground before Michaelow, who was trying to 
look out in the opposite direction. Alexander 
wore a workman’s blouse and had a stout club in 
his hand. “ 1 thank you, Sasha,” Likin said in a 
slightly disguised voice, “ for your punctuality,” 
and shaking hands with the delighted Nihilist, 
he added : “ What do you bring me ?” 

“ I bring the statutes of the Terrorist-party, 
as they were agreed upon at Lipeck,” replied 
Alexander. “We shall make them known only 
after you have approved them — for you know 
we have chosen you to be our Head, without 
knowing your name.” 

“ Anything else ?” 

“ Yes. We intended to summon the Boyard 
Alexander Nicolajewitch, who calls himself Em- 


156 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


peror of all the Russias, before our Executive 
Committee, and if he refuses to appear, to con- 
demn him to death without trial. Do you 
approve of this also ?” 

Liken seemed to shiver a moment. After a 
while he murmured : “ Well, be it so !” 

Michaelow’s features brightened up with satis- 
faction. Then he continuedfcalmly : “ I have at 
once brought you our citation and we request that 
you will manage to let it reach the Czar as well as 
afterwards the sentence of death. We have just 
now no one else who could do that. Shall we 
publish the two documents in our paper. Our 
Country and Freedom ?'* 

“ I will give my answer in a week. Where are 
the papers !” 

Michaelow stooped and drew from his right 
boot a small parcel, wrapped up in thin paper, 
and handed it to Likin. The officer took it and 
carefully put it away in his breast-pocket ; then 
he asked the Nihilist where he would be here- 
after, and how letters would reach him safely?” 

“ In Petersburg !” was the answer. Letters 
will reach me safely sent to care of I. J. Olenin.” 

Likin started : Olenin was a high official, whose 
connection with the Nihilists was unknown. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


167 


“Very well!” he said. “Report to me, as 
heretofore, under the Peter’s statue in Alexander 
Square.” 

“One thing before we part!” said Michaelow. 
“We wish as soon as possible to know the pre- 
cise day and hour when the Czar will leave 
Livadia. You can let me know through the 
same channel !” 

“ The Czar is still at the manoeuvres in Poland. 
Then he will have an interview with the German 
Emperor, and after that go to Livadia. He will 
certainly remain in the Crimea till November, 
but you shall know about his return as soon as 
all the preparations are made. Give my love to 
our brethren ! Farewell !” 

He bowed courteously and stepping back, was 
instantly swallowed up in the deep darkness of 
the avenue. 

“Farewell!” cried Alexander, trying in vain 
to pierce the night, in which the mysterious 
leader had disappeared. But it was in vain. 
He seized his cane and walked rapidly towards 
the village, where he proposed to spend the 
night, so as to start at sunrise on his way to 
Riazan. 

As he drew near the village, he was met by 


158 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


the barking of dogs and the sharp trot of a 
horse. He grasped his club more firmly and 
kept on the outside of the road. Two dogs 
ran right up to him and barked, but did no harm. 
The horseman — it was Prince Peter — suddenly 
checked his horse and ordered the dogs to be 
quiet; “Back A\i\ back Hassan ! Let go!” 
The dogs obeyed and rushed off. Peter was 
about to ride on, when his eye fell on the wan- 
derer’s face. In spite of the darkness it looked 
familiar to him, and instantly he recognized in 
him the workman, whom he had seen in Moscow 
at the Riazan Station, when his people were 
leaving for the country. 

In the meantime Michaelow had quietly gone 
on and Prince Peter could only shake his head 
and say to himself : “ I could swear it is the 
same man,” when the fierce barking of his dogs 
called his attention elsewhere. When he came 
up to where they were, he found them surround- 
ing a man in a long cloak, and of a sudden this 
figure also appeared familiar to him. He 
thought it a very remarkable coincidence that 
he should here, on his own land, meet once more 
the two men who had at that time aroused his 
attention in so high a degree. He gave the 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


159 


reins to his horse and soon stood before the 
disguised man ; then he cried : 

“ Who are you, and what are you doing here, 
on the road to Dulino?” 

Likin had stopped and looked up at him. 

The young prince instantly recognized in him 
the disguised man, whom he had met in Mos- 
cow, at the station. Then a deep voice, with an 
ironical laugh in it, fell upon his ear, and he 
found he knew the voice also. “ 1 mean to sleep 
^t Dulino, Prince. It is late and time to rest 
from the day’s labors.” 

At the same time the man took off his hat and 
removed the beard. Peter saw that he had 
guessed right ; nevertheless he was greatly sur- 
prised. 

“ Gregory Petrowitch !” he exclaimed, and 
added passionately : “ What does this disguise 
mean, Captain? 1 just met a man, who probably 
was a friend of yours. I hope you are not forget- 
ting what you owe our family as a guest in our 
house !” 

Likin smiled scornfully. “ Be calm, Lieuten- 
ant,” he said coldly. “ I wish everybody here 
might know as well what is right and proper. 
Service with the Political Police requires many 


160 


ALL OB NOTHING. 


things which we cannot avoid.” He pointed at 
the hat and the false beard. 

Peter saw that he had gone too far and 
apologized. The two young men returned home 
together after Likin had whistled through two 
fingers and Ivan had appeared as if by magic. 
Likin put the beard, with the papers which 
Alexander had given him, in a secret pocket, 
threw the cloak to Ivan and told him to take the 
horse to the stables and then to wait for him in 
his room. 

When the servant was gone, he took Peter’s 
arm and drew him slowly on. “ They tell me. 
Prince,” he said, “ you mean to leave the Army. 
1 should be glad to think that you have the same 
motives which made me give up the Guards !” 

“ And what were they ?” asked Peter. 

“ Disgust at mere sham life, and the convic- 
tion that the Army could never fully satisfy a 
man of character.” 

“ But you only changed the uniform, not the 
profession ?” 

“ It seems so, and in fact I am no longer a sol- 
dier. The uniform is a mere accident. I am a 
politician, a statesman.” 

Peter was struck by this new view of the mat- 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


161 


ter. Likin’s manner became more sympathetic ; 
he wished to understand this strange man, and 
asked him frankly what was the real nature of 
the services he was now rendering? 

“Our principal duty is to ascertain the cur- 
rent of public opinion, to find out the wants and 
necessities of the masses, to cut down excres- 
cences, and to protect good and profitable germs 
against the overwhelming pressure of foul weeds. 
Thus we furnish the Government the needed 
material for legislation, explore the ground, and 
point out the way on which to proceed. That 
is a task which rewards the energies of a man !” 

“ Indeed !” called out the prince, enthusiastic- 
ally. “ I only fear that few in your profession 
take such ideal views of their duties !" 

“ That is true ! but where are there only lead- 
ers and no followers. It increases the charm of 
our activity, to be one of the few who direct the 
work of many blind tools. I hope, if you spend 
next year in St. Petersburg, to be able to show 
you some evidence of what I have just said. 1 
have noticed with pleasure the serious views 
you have begun to take of life and of men’s work 
in life, and 1 admire your purpose to prepare 
yourself thoroughly for a wise and just adminis- 


1G2 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


tration of the vast estate that will be yours. 
Let us shake hands ; 1 hope we shall be 

friends !” 

The two men shook hands, and then Likin 
said : 

“ I think I shall accompany you to-morrow ; 
the messenger whom you saw with me, has 
brought me letters which force me to leave 
Dulino immediately. I am sorry to go, but 
duty calls.’' 

They agreed to start at seven o’clock and 
parted at the door, as Peter wanted to go to the 
stable to see that his horse was well taken care 
of. Likin followed him with his eyes till he was 
out of sight. Then he slipped softly along the 
wall of the house, reached the rear and hurried 
through the garden into the Linden Avenue. 
Here he found Anna in a light cloak, waiting 
for him. 

“ At last, my love !” she sighed, and fell on 
his breast. 

He embraced her, and in passionate kisses, in 
ardent whispers of love, the two happy ones 
forgot time, place, all that surrounded them. 
Thus the hours passed, the morning dawned, and 
still they walked up and down. Anna had prom- 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


163 


ised to write faithfully, till in the latter part of 
summer they would meet again. Till then, she 
wished their love to remain a secret; he hoped 
for promotion and would then openly woo her ; 
in the meantime, she was to persuade her parents 
to spend the winter in St. Petersburg. This 
they hoped to bring all the more easily about as 
Anna was to be appointed one of the Czarina’s 
ladies in waiting. 

At last the increasing light warned them to 
part. They walked arm in arm to the veranda, 
and there took leave of each other, with passion- 
ate vows of eternal love and faithfulness. Anna, 
who seemed to be entirely changed, shed tor- 
rents of tears and hung on his neck. She was 
all devotion. At last she tore herself away and 
fled to her quiet rooms. 

Next morning Prince Peter took leave of his 
father, kissing him repeatedly, and promised 
Liken to make his excuses to the iadies. Then the 
two men jumped into their carriage and drove 
out into the fresh, cool morning air. While 
Anna, with a blissful smile, kissed her hands again 
and again for her beloved, and then slipped again 
into bed to continue amid tears the dream of 
her first love. Plena stood at the window, with 


164 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


dry, rigidly-fixed eyes, and pressed her tiny 
hands on her aching heart. She had driven him 
from her, that he might become a man to look 
up to, and now, when he was gone, gone without 
bidding her farewell, she felt that she had taken 
too great a responsibility on herself. Hot tears 
flowed from her weary eyes over her rosy, little 
hands, and she sent ardent prayers to Heaven, 
that God might prevent her great sacrifice from 
being in vain. 


CHAPTER X. 

Marja Plevanko was still living in the old 
tenement-house in Moscow At first, time had 
hung heavily on her hands; but gradually, as let- 
ters came from Likin, which always contained 
money, or a visit from Alexander Michaelow 
broke the monotony, she began once more to 
delight in life. Now, also, besides Alexander 
Michaelow, Adler, Sophie Perowska and many 
others had come from St. Petersburg and treated 
her .as one of them. She knew not what their 
final aim might be ; they only told her that they 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


165 


were engaged in some great undertaking, and 
that she must do whatever Michaelow, who was 
at their head, might order to be done. She had 
become passionately fond of Sophie, this child 
of the aristocracy, and she wept bitter tears when 
told that she must leave her ; she had been or- 
dered to take a house in a remote suburb, where 
Leo Hartman also was installed — the centre of 
all Nihilistic plots. 

Her duty was pleasant enough ; ever}" day 
twice, before dinner and supper, she was to go 
out there, disguised as a peasant woman, and car- 
rying on her arm a large basket ; at the house 
she had to hand the contents, provisions and all 
kinds of chemicals, to the fictitious husband and 
wife, and to take in return as much black soil as 
the basket would hold, and secretly empty it 
during her walk home. In this way the two 
friends saw each other daily, and Marja would 
have been quite content, if Sophie’s looks had 
not caused her , serious apprehensions. The 
cause was evident. 

In the cellar under the house ten brethren 
were busily digging a mine ; they never appeared 
above ground, Hartman being the only one who 
carried the soil up into the house and kept up 


166 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


relations with Michaelow and others, from v\diom 
he received instructions and — dynamite. Sophie’s 
nerves suffered from this digging and working 
under ground ; besides, she had hardly any time 
for sleep. Day and night she sat at the window, 
keeping watch, for fear that the police might sur- 
prise the brethren. As soon as a suspicious per- 
son approached, she pressed an electric button, 
and instantly all was silence below. For an 
emergency a bottle of nitro-glycerine stood on a 
small table, near at hand, and a ball from the 
revolver she always carried, would have blown 
up the house and all that were within. “ Rather 
death than captivity !” was Sophie’s motto. But 
this constant excitement and the want of fresh 
air, made her lose all color ; she fell off, and her 
usually merry eyes grew large and hollow, full 
of sadness. 

Marja was anxiously concerned for her friend. 
She knew, moreover, that Shell had settled as a 
tanner near the rail way -track at Alexandrowsk, 
where he was now engaged in the same work, 
and that Sophie’s anxiety for him gnawed at her 
heart. He was, therefore, all the more affection- 
ate to her, and had often 'offered to take her place ; 
but her Iriend had never consented. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


16T 


Thus, anxious and absorbed in sad thoughts, 
she was one evening sitting near the window and 
looking out into the dismal November evening, 
when suddenly hasty steps were heard, and the 
next instant Alexander entered. He looked dis- 
tressed, and was out of breath. Marja started up. 
“ What is it, Sasha?’' she asked. 

“ Nothing as far as I am concerned, but Adler 
has been arrested !’' 

This man was utterly unsympathetic to Marja, 
and the news, therefore, did' not affect her much. 
She quietly offered her visitor a chair and urged 
him to sit down and to recover his breath. He 
declined, however, and ran furiously up and down 
in the little room, swearing fearfully. This was 
so foreign to Michaelow that Marja at last asked 
him, if tlie man was of such great importance, 
that his arrest should excite him so greatly? 

“No!” cried Michaelow, “that is not the 
matter, for Adler was but a subordinate instru- 
ment, who fancied he was a master. In him we 
lose little. But the danger is elsewhere. In the 
first place, they have found a box of dynamite in 
his room, which he was just going to send off, 
and this may lead to discoveries by the police, 
which will ruin our enterprise. Then, he is the 


168 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


only companion of the first degree whom 1 deem 
capable of denouncing all of us, merely in order 
to save his life for a few days. And he knows 
much, very much — enough to ruin our whole 
party! And I have introduced him ! 1 invited 

him to Lipeck! That is what makes me mad !” 

Now he beat at his forehead and cried : “ The 
box was directed to Odessa. Our correspond- 
ent must be warned ! At once !” 

He rushed out without a word to Marja. She 
shook her head sadly : “ I do not understand 
him. He is a good man, he cannot see a human 
being suffer, not even an animal, and yet he gives 
himself up to revolution and bloodshed, he 
speaks of nothing but of murder She went to 
lock her door and to seek her miserable couch. 

Two days later news came that the Czar, 
coming from Livadia, would reach Moscow that 
evening. When Marja went out to fetch the 
basket about noon and to carry it to Sophie, she 
found all the streets and public squares full of 
excited crowds; everywhere steps were taken 
to adorn houses and churches, and on all public 
buildings thousands of workmen were busy pre- 
paring a grand illumination for the reception of 
the monarch. When she entered Michaelow’s 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


169 


house, he met her eagerly, and handing her 
the basket, he said : “ This is the last ; to-night 
you need not go for it any more !” 

“The Czar arrives to-day, Sasha,’' she re- 
marked. 

“ I know, I know ! The train is due at nine; 
let him come — we are ready !’’ He looked mourn- 
fully down, then glancing at Marja, he added : 
“ Do you know that Likin is here ?” 

Marja was shocked ; she did not know, should 
she rejoice or not ? 

He noticed the^ shock it gave her with tri- 
umph, and continued : “ He reached here this 
morning to superintend the measures taken for 
the Emperor’s safety. We shall try to relieve him 
of that care. As for the rest — ” He broke off 
suddenly, and said only : “ My love to Sophie 
and Hartman ; tell them to be at their post at 
nine ! I’ll be there myself, to give the signal.’’ 
Then he handed Marja the basket and went 
with her to the street, where they parted. 

Marja’s heart was in a tumult. Should she go 
and see Likin? Would he come to see her? 
She felt that in spite of all that had happened she 
loved him still, and she walked as fast as she 
could, for fear he might come before she returned. 


170 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Likin had really arrived in Moscow that morn- 
ing and immediately driven to the Head of 
Police. He had found him and urged him to 
have the Kursk railway-station once more care- 
fully searched, in town and beyond town. He 
had given a solemn warning — more he would not 
say. Let Fate do the rest ! Then he had driven 
to the Gendarmes’ Barracks, where he had rooms, 
in which Ivan was waiting for him, who had 
come by another train from St. Petersburg. 

Did you bring anything else from the statue 
in Alexander Square ?” 

“This letter,” said Ivan, handing his master a 
small note containing a dispatch, which Likin at 
once opened and read : 

“ A. just left in three perfectly equal trains.” 

Underneath was written in pencil : 

“ Pray tell Sasha instantly, in which A. is him- 
self?” “The Executive Committee.” 

Likin let the hand with the dispatch sink, and 
looked with contracted eyebrows straight before 
him. He breathed hard, and soon became so 
restless that he had to walk up and down in the 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


in 


room, evidently struggling^ with some decisive 
resolve. He had until now never spared his own 
life, because he valued no man’s life as worth 
anything. Where his ambition was involved, he 
allowed no obstacle to be in his way. More 
than once already he had, in order to strengthen 
his position with the ruling powers, abused the 
confidence of the conspirators, and mercilessly 
handed them over to a disgraceful death. But 
now, when the tables were turned, and he was 
called upon to hand over the head of the Empire 
to his inexorable enemies, now, when the decis- 
ion was at hand, he hesitated. His blood rushed 
to his head and beat furiously in his temples; his 
mouth was parched and his breast felt like burst- 
ing. There was no doubt about it : the life of the 
Czar lay in his hand — a few words written down 
and Russia had lost a Czar ! 

But what then ? A new Alexander would at 
once fill the vacant place : Le roi est mort^ vive le 
roi ! But what could he hope from the new 
ruler? His plans were not ready yet — he had 
not yet a whole people at his back — no ! the hour 
had not come yet ! 

And then, these revolutionists, these absurd 
Nihilists, had they not decided the question 


172 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


without him ? Had they not disregarded his 
wishes? He wanted to show them, to make 
them feel, that without him they could accom- 
plish nothing. He grew cooler, his blood sub- 
sided, his mind resumed its sway over his pas- 
sions ; he went to his table, seized a pencil and 
wrote in a disguised hand : 

“ A. is in the second train. . ‘‘ I.” 

It was not so, and he knew it ; this morning 
the Head of Police had told him in confidence, 
that the Czar, after starting in the second train, 
would, at a small station not far from Moscow, 
change secretly and go in the first train. No 
one could prove that he had known of this sud- 
den caprice of the Emperor ! He sealed his dis- 
patch, gave it to Ivan, and ordered him to hand 
it to Sasha, but he must go disguised as a cab- 
driver ! 

Ivan left him in silence, and Likin went to the 
window to look into the dismal garden with its 
leafless trees and mournfully swaying branches; 
he thought of many things and many persons, 
but never of her, who was so anxiously expect- 
ing him— Marja. She had waited the whole 
afternoon~in vain. Every step on the stairs 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


173 


made her tremble ; when it grew dark, her im- 
patience became bitter disappointment. But 
she fought it down, and tried to find excuses for 
him. He was on duty here; he had, no doubt, 
much to do, and could find no time for his heart’s 
eager wishes. When the Czar had come, he 
would no doubt give her all the time he could 
spare. 

Marja had oeen so absorbed in her own anx- 
iety, that she had entirely forgotten the great 
work of her companions. Of a sudden it stood 
before her mind’s eye, a fearful, death-bringing 
work! She had heard enough to-day to guess 
the appalling nature of the enterprise, and a 
feverish anxiety for the Czar seized her forcibly. 
Wrapping herself up in her cloak, and drawing 
the hood over her head, she rushed out to hurry 
to the Kreml. She must see him, safe and 
sound ; when she should have seen him enter 
the palace, she might hope to be quite herself 
again. Till then she was an accomplice of mur- 
derers ! She repented bitterly having pledged 
herself to secrecy and silence, and vowed never 
to do it again as long as she lived. 

It was dark when she came out into the street ; 
a sharp wind swept down the long broad avenue 


m 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


and shook the young, leafless trees. In the prin- 
cipal streets all was motion and excitement; an 
immense mass, constantly swelling at every 
street-corner, rolled down to the gates of the 
Kreml. Marja fell into the current and was car- 
ried along with it helpless. Past the large the- 
atre, with its thousands of little lamps, past mag- 
nificent public buildings brilliantly illuminated, 
till at last the Kreml became visible with its red, 
crenelated walls. The crowd stopped ; all gazed 
in voiceless admiration. The little church of the 
Virgin of Iberia was one mass of gorgeous 
jewels ; over the entrance gate the Imperial 
double eagle spread its wings with thousands of 
gas-jets. Above the whole there shone a bright 
star, an enormous electric lamp, which illu- 
mined the whole surrounding scene and the 
countless crowd of men as bright as day, leaving 
the mysterious foot of the Kreml in all the more 
imposing night. 

And then the Kreml itself ! Its numerous 
cupolas and steeples were strewn with flames ; 
here long, straight lines, and there curves and 
circles crept up to the golden crosses on the tops, 
and dense, black masses of smoke, surpassing 
night itself in blackness, showed that enormous 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


1T5 


iron kettles with burning tar were standing in 
front of the palace. On the walls, also, long rows 
of open pans, raised on gigantic candelabras, 
emitted long tongues of fire, which plaj^ed to and 
fro as the rising wind drove them hither and 
thither. It was a sight never to be forgotten. 

Marja was pushed and almost carried forward 
till she found herself in front of the chapel, close 
to the lines of unarmed soldiers who lined the 
streets as far as the eye could reach. They were 
thus forming two liviiig barriers, between which 
a broad, perfectly clear way was left open to the 
Kreml. The place was excellent, but Marja was 
once more seized with real anguish ; her heart 
beat almost audibly, and threatened to break, 
when suddenly solemn silence fell upon the multi- 
tude. Priests in gold and silver brocades, carry- 
ing saints’ images and censers in their hands, came 
forth from the chapel, and after them the Metro- 
politan, a venerable old man with long, snow- 
white hair and beard ; he was followed by more 
priests in gorgeous vestments and then by offi- 
cers of all grades, covered with crosses and 
other marks of distinction. The crowd uncov- 
ered and crossed themselves, while the proces- 
sion re-entered the chapel and disappeared. At 


176 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


tne same moment horses were heard galloping 
on the hard pavement and some officers ap- 
peared to see that all was in order ; then an offi- 
cer of gendarmes came down the street at full 
speed, crying : “The Czar is coming!” The dig- 
nitaries took their places, the crowd awaited in 
silence the arrival of their Father, and Marja 
was entranced at the thought that the conspir- 
acy must have miscarried, or the Emperor could 
not now be coming. She bowed her head in 
humble gratitude and crossed herself reverently. 

Then came at a short gallop a brilliant caval- 
cade, with the Head of Police and Likin at his 
side. And now the Czar was approaching, 
announced by a low, thundering roar, which, as 
it came nearer, broke out in tremendous cheers, 
that made the Kreml tremble. 

The Emperor came in a small, bomb-proof 
coup6, drawn by four fier}^ horses, who flew by 
as quick as lightning. Before the coach, at the 
sides, and behind it, rode a detachment of Cos- 
sacks of the Guards in their black fur caps and 
scarlet dolmans, riding madly and bending down 
on the manes of their small, shaggy horses. 
They rode so close to the carriage that it looked 
as if they were part of the coach. With marvel- 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


177 


ous skill the coachman made the horses, running- 
at full speed as they were, stop instantly when 
they reached the door of the chapel, and the 
Czar, followed by Prince Dolgorucki, entered, 
taking no notice of the cheers of the crowd or 
the bows of the great dignitaries, who stood at 
the door. Once more a solemn silence fell upon 
the multitude — it was, as if the people wished to 
let the Czar perform his solemn prayers while 
they were holding their breath. 

But what is this? On the same road, on which 
the Emperor has just come, there is once more 
heard the clatter of horses’ hoofs, but wild, 
irregular and furious ; and now, out of the dark- 
ness, appears a single rider, a young officer of 
Gendarmes, who comes at a mad speed. He 
was barely hanging on his horse, and dug the 
spurs deep into the flanks of the foam-covered 
animal, as if it were a matter of life and death. 

The Emperor had finished his prayer before 
the miracle-working image of the Mother of God 
of Iberia, and came out of the chapel at the same 
moment, when the officer checked his horse so 
suddenly that it nearly fell. He jumped from 
the horse, rushed up the steps and fell at the 
JEmperor’s feet. The sovereign, illumined by 


178 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


the electric light, looking pale and indisposed, 
drew back and looked down upon the officer, 
who could hardly breathe, half in question, half 
in anger. All the surrounding faces showed 
consternation. “What does the mari want?” 
the Czar asked aloud. 

Then the young officer raised his head and 
said in a clear, but trembling voice: “ Pardon, 
Sire, for the message I bring ! Cursed hands 
have undermined the track of the railway, and 
the train which immediately followed Your 
Majesty is destroyed. But God has preserved 
Your Majesty and saved the Czar for the 
Russian Empire !” 

The EmperiQr turned white, like newly fallen 
snow, but instantly his suite closed around him 
and his coup^ came dashing up to the door. 
Prince Dolgorucki lent him his arm and aided 
him affectionately down the steps and into his 
carriage. Then he, also, jumped in, the door 
closed and all vanished in the dark night of the 
Iberian Gate. The crowd had at first stood still 
in awestruck terror ; now the message flew from 
mouth to mouth : “ Another attempt ! God has 
preserved our Czar!” At once a single shout of 
delight broke forth from ten thousand throats 


all or nothing. 


179 


and found an echo in the hurrahs which received 
the Czar at the Iron Gate and followed him to 
the palace. 

Marja had ceased to be interested in the events 
of the evening when she saw the Czar was not 
injured, and her thoughts now returned to the 
man of her heart. She had met him a second 
time, and the bitter conflict within her was 
forcibly renewed. As she was approaching her 
house, she heard voices in her room, and at once 
guessed that friends had assembled there, as they 
often did to discuss their plans. Trying to hear 
what was going on, she understood first that 
Likin’s life was threatened, and then enough 
more to make her fly away instantly in the 
direction of the Kremh 

“We must have our revenge for this failure,” 
Michaelow had cried furiously. “ If the Czar 
has escaped us, we must hit his tool, Likin, all 
the more certainly. You,” he said to some of 
his companions, “ you will lie in ambush for him 
near the Kreml. If he escapes your poignards, 
my revolver will not miss him, I promise 3’ou !” 

These words were continually dinning in 
Marja’s ears. “What? Likin, their best friend, 
her beloved, her betrothed, he was to be mur- 


180 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


dered ! And by whom ? By the men who 
called themselves her best, her warmest friends! 
She must not allow that ! Never! Her unfor- 
tunate vow did not bind her to that! She must 
save him, and should she incur the hatred and 
the revenge of the whole party !” 

Her breath would come no longer; her 
strength also forsook her, but the anguish in her 
heart overcame the weakness of the body. All 
the streets and public squares were once more 
open to the public, and she reached the Red 
Gate unhindered. With wildly beating heart 
she was standing before the gaping mouth of the 
Kreml ; she moderated her steps, the sentinel let 
her enter, and she soon found herself on the 
great square before the palace. Here all was 
light and movement ; the news of the attempt on 
the Czar’s life had spread like wildfire all over, 
the city, and carriage after carriage rolled up to 
the palace gates to leave cards and inquiries 
after His Majesty’s condition. Full of care and 
anxiety, they all returned home. Why must this 
needs happen in Moscow.” 

Thousands and ten thousands crowded the 
square and the adjacent streets ; here and there 
a gendarme on duty sat like a statue, but his eyes 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


181 


saAv everything. Marja at last gathered courage 
to approach one of these centaurs and to 
ask if Gregory Petrowitch Likin was still in 
the palace. “ I have a message for him and am 
waiting,” she added. 

“ The captain is not here,” answered the man 
haughtily ; “ he rode like mad to the station — 
perhaps he will not return here at all.” 

Thereupon the guardian of public safet}’ made 
his horse dance a little to drive intruders back 
upon the sidewalk. 

Marja was in despair — what could she do? 

All of a sudden, Likin, followed b}^ two gen- 
darmes, came dashing out of a side street, threw 
the bridle to one of his men and entered the 
palace. 

The gendarme rode away with his horse. 

“ For the present, it seems, he will remain in 
the palace,” Marja thought, and this delay calmed 
her excitement. She would not leave the place 
till she had seen him. 



CHAPTER XI. 

In the Emperor’s study, which looked com- 
fortable in spite of the old-fashioned oak-panel- 
ing and the black leather, with which sofa and 
chairs were covered, a startling scene took place. 
The persons surrounding the monarch were his 
ministers; among them the Head of Police of 
Moscow, Koslow, Co^int Lambsdorf, the Com- 
mandant of the Kreml, and the greatest favorite 
of the time. Prince Trubeckoi. Prince Dolgor- 
ucki had just addressed the Czar and pointed 
out to him how evidently God’s gracious pro- 
tection of his life had called forth the most 
enthusiastic joy of the whole nation, while all, 
high and low, were utterly disgusted and 
shocked at the unsuccessful attempt. The Czar 
had listened in ominous silence and then, casting 
[182J 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


183 


a piercing glance at Koslow, he had said : “ I 

find my safety is very ill-secured.” Koslow 
started and attempted to excuse himself, but the 
Czar smiled contemptuously. “ Of course. Ex- 
cuses are always to be had. Whom did General 
Drentelen send down here?” 

“ Captain Likin, Sire,” replied Koslow. 

“ And where is this captain ? Why is he not 
here ?” 

The Head of Police thought this a good 
opportunity to direct the Master’s anger against 
another person. 

“ I do not know, Sire. The captain chose to 
withdraw directly after making his report, with- 
out asking for leave.” 

“ Ah!” exclaimed the Czar, and his eyebrows 
nearly met. 

Prince Dolgorucki, however, was disgusted at 
this insiduous accusation. “ Captain Likin,” he 
said, * is not under the orders of the Head of 
Police of Moscow ; he reported to me, and at 
once hurried to the place where the attempt was 
made to inquire and report to me. He may 
return any moment.” 

Koslow cast a furious look at the old prince 
and was silent. 


184 


ALL OR NOTHINO. 


At this moment one of the Aides-de-camp 
reported that Captain Likin was awaiting His 
Majesty’s orders. 

“ Send him in,” ordered the Czar. 

A few moments later the young officer entered, 
remaining near the door, as calm as ever, and 
coolly mustering the company present. 

“ Come nearer,” said the Emperor, curtly. 
“ What have you to report ?” 

Likin slowly approached the table in the 
centre and stated : “ I have unfortunately to 
report that an attempt at your Majesty’s life was 
intended. The criminal men had dug a subter- 
ranean passage from a house situated in a garden 
to the embankment of the railway. This mine 
was in direct connection with a galvanic battery 
in the house. Another wire led upstairs to a 
window, from which the railway was visible a 
long distance. The conspirators must have 
fled long before the train arrived. 1 think two 
persons have been at work : one who stood at 
the window and started the current, the other, 
whose footsteps are visible, stood at the embank- 
ment to give the signal. The effect pf the explo- 
sion was enormous. The railway embankment 
is torn to pieces for many yards, the rails have 


ALL OR NOTHINO. 


1B5 


been hurled to a great distance, and three cars 
of the train were turned over and destroyed.” 

“ Has any trace of the conspirators been 
found ?” 

“ No, Sire, as yet not the slightest. The house 
was only occupied since the first of October by 
a married couple ; both have disappeared. I 
have ordered them to be found ; but I shall need 
the co-operation of the police — ” 

The Czar started. “ I shall order, to-morrow, 
who is to carry on the investigation ; at all events, 
I shall appoint other men than those who have 
been unable to prevent this calamity. You can 
go!” 

Likin remained standing, and looked at the 
Emperor with astonished eyes. “ Your Majesty’s 
indignation is directed against the wrong per- 
son,” he said, energetically. “ I was ordered in 
St. Petersburg, to go to Moscow, and there to 
watch over Your Majesty’s safe arrival. The 
conspirators must have been busy many months 
to accomplish all they have done. I only came 
yesterday, and surely was not in a position to 
prevent the attempt.” 

The ministers and generals looked with con- 


186 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


sternation at the bold speaker. The Emperor 
was furious and turned his back to him. Then 
he said, turning’ with assumed indifference to 
Prince Dolgorucki: “ My dear Wladimir Andry- 
ewitch, r beg you will see to it that Captain 
Likin is left unemployed till it appears how far 
he is guilty of negligence in connection with 
this affair.’’ He bowed slightly right and left, 
and hastily disappeared into his cabinet. 

Instantly a number of servants in their scarlet 
liveries with rich gold laces, their white shirts 
and silver buckles on their shoes, and old-fash- 
ioned wigs, came rushing forth to order the car- 
riages. The Governor-General and Likin were 
the two last persons ; the captain was deadly pale 
and evidently struggling hard with just indigna- 
tion. Suddenly the Head of Police appeared 
behind them, he smiled ironicall)^ at Likin and 
nodded condescendingly. Likin did not return 
the greeting, but looked fixedly into his adver- 
sary’s face. The old prince invited him to drive 
home with him, but Likin declined, pleading that 
he wanted to breathe some fresh air. “ Do not 
mind His Majesty’s anger too much,” the prince 
said, kindly.. “ Emperor Alexander has never hes- 
itated to make amends when he has been over- 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


18T 


hasty. I will stand by you. Are you sure you 
warned Koslow, this morning, to have that 
embankment examined ?” 

“ As soon as 1 reached here, Your Highness !” 

“ That is very fortunate ! Leave it entirely to 
me!” Then he bade Likin good-bye and stepped 
into his coupe. Likin looked after him and drew 
his cloak closely around him ; then he turned to 
the left to make his way through the Kreml. In 
this way he walked straight upon Marja, but 
without recognizing her at first. As he was 
turning to the left, their eyes met, and he 
exclaimed: “ You, Marja, you here 1” 

She looked at him and she shuddered. She 
had never imagined that his features could be 
thus distorted with rage and fury. Uncon- 
sciously she seized his hand and cried : 

What is it, Grisha? What have they done 
to you ?” And now only she remembered why 
she was here, and she continued passionately : 
“ I have waited here for you, suffering agony 
from impatience. Your life is in danger ! I was 
by accident present when they bound them- 
selves to murder you ! I conjure you, Grisha, 
do not go away from here alone! They are 
lying in wait for you everywhere !” She looked 


188 


A.LL OR NOTHING. 


up at him imploringly ; her hood had fallen 
back, and the ringlets over her brow were flut- 
tering in the high wind. 

A great change took place in Likin’s face. 
Hatred and rage vanished as by magic ; an iron 
will and calm courage took their place ; he 
looked like carved marble ; his black eye was iron. 

He had learned to-day how unsafe the ground 
was on which he was standing — how easily a 
caprice of blind chance might cast him aside. 
He had allowed his heart and his feelings too 
large an influence on his actions, the ambitious 
man knows but one sure guide: his cold, inex- 
orably logical reason ! Sim pi}’ because he had 
spared the Czar’s life, he found himself now in a 
false position! To spare life is the work of a 
feeling heart, and such a heart is sure to suffer. 
What an irony of fate that the same Emperor 
whom he, Likin, had saved just now in his mys- 
terious omnipotence, should have insulted him 
in the presence of his Court, punishing him 
contrary to justice, and that at the same time the 
conspirators, who were mere puppets in his 
hands, should determine to murder him ! He 
must never again be weak, never only do half 
what he meant to do. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


189 


■ Quick as lightning these thoughts had filled 
liis mind — but his face gave no sign ; it remained 
unmoved, and so was his voice as he, lightly 
stroking her bare head, said : 

“ 1 thank you, Marja! You have rendered me 
a great service by your warning. Come, let us 
begone !” 

Marja placed herself in his way. The instinct 
of her love had enabled her to read in his face 
that he was going to defy his adversaries, and 
she said : 

“ I beseech you, Grisha, not this way ! Fol- 
low me to the nearest cab-stand, and then you 
can safely return home !” 

He shook his head. “ No, Marja,” he said, 
calmly. “ I must not avoid them ; that would be 
weakness. On the ways, on which 1 walk, there 
is only victory or death. Every attempt at life 
is half defeated from the moment it is known!” 

She yielded. Although trembling with fear, 
she knew that this man did whatever he had 
decided to do. And was she not at his side ? 
The dagger that was to touch him, had first to 
pierce her ! She drew her hood once more over 
her head and took his arm. She was not to be 
an atom less brave than he whom she loved. 


190 


ALL OB NOTHING. 


Thus they crossed the square ; but when the}^ 
approached the narrow gate which leads to the 
Alexander Gardens, she clung more closely to 
him. Once more she shook with anxiety, and 
sighed, “ If we but had the gate behind us!” 

Likin smiled, but, perhaps to please her; he 
loosed his cloak, so that he could easily drop it ; 
then he felt to see if his revolver could easily be 
drawn out, and then he said cheerfully : “ Now 
we are ready to meet a whole band.” 

At the same moment two dark figures turned 
up at the other side of the gate and started at 
seeing Marja with Likin. 

“ Here they are 1” whispered Marja, who 
thought she recognized companions, in spite of 
the feeble light. 

“So much the better !” replied Likin, “ walk 
close by me, but do not interfere with my arm. 
As soon as we are in the gate, go ahead, but keep 
close to the right-hand walk. These blackguards 
always attack from behind 1 The two unknown 
men, however, advanced and stood in their 
way. 

“ Are you Gregory Likin ?” asked one of 
them, a short, stout fellow, with pock-marked 
face, and tried to get close to Likin. Both of 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


191 


them were students, very young and fanatical, 
who had but recently joined the “Secret 
Russia.” 

“ Stand aside !” cried Likin fiercel}^ “ if you 
love.yoLir life !” 

“ Take this for Adrian Ozinski !” said the first, 
drawing a dagger and falling upon Likin. At 
the same time the other man prepared to attack 
in the rear, but the captain did not for a moment 
lose his presence of mind. With a jerk he 
dropped his cloak, and before the dagger could 
touch him, he was holding his enemy’s wrist as 
in an iron vice. He pressed it hard, till the 
weapon fell on the hard floor with a ringing 
noise. Fortunatel}^ the younger of the two 
assassins stumbled over the cloak that was lying 
on Ihe ground and fell, as Likin moved aside, at 
full length on the pavement. Marja uttered a 
heart-rending cry, tottered and fell on her knees. 
This cry attracted the sentinel at the palace at 
once, cries were heard, signals were given, and 
hurried steps came from that direction. The 
Nihilists abandoned their effort and only thought 
of flight ; but, first, the student renewed the attack. 
Likin tried to parry with his left arm. Instantly 
he felt how cold iron pierced the flesh of the 


192 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


upper arm, but before he could deliver a blow 
upon his adversary, the man fled, dropping his 
poignard. The approaching soldiers saw the two 
criminals escaping and pursued them in the 
feeble lamp-light. Likin calmly drew the dag. 
ger from his sleeve, bent down and helped Marja 
to get up. She saw that he was unhurt and 
great joy shone in her eyes, which soon filled 
with slowly flowing tears. She leaned her head 
on his breast and whispered : “ Thanks and 

praise be to the Holy Mother of God !” 

In the meantime an officer had come up, who 
knew Likin, and asked what had happened. 
“ Are you wounded, Captain ?’' 

Likin answered : “ Oh, a mere trifle ! A cut 
on the upper arm !” He said this smiling, but 
he felt the hot blood running down his arm in- 
side of the sleeve. 

“ We have an Infirmary attached to the guard 
at this palace ; perhaps you had better let them 
examine you there.” 

Likin nodded, made one of the soldiers hang 
his cloak over his shoulders, and with his lady- 
friend on his arm, he followed the officer to the 
guard-house. 

When the captain there bared his arm, the 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


193 


wound was found to be only a flesh-wound, 
which could easily be sewn up. This was done 
at once and Likin was dismissed with the warn- 
ing that he must not use his arm for a week, if 
he wished soon to recover. The men who had 
gone in pursuit of the would-be murderers, 
returned without them — they had lost all traces 
of them in the crowds which still filled the 
streets. Likin asked the officer to keep the acci- 
dent as quiet as he could, and when he walked 
home with Marja on his arm, his mind had fully 
recovered its balance ; the excitement of the 
combat had actually benefitted him. “ 1 have a 
plan, Marja,’' he said, “ which I should like to 
discuss with you — could you afford giving me 
another hour? To-morrow I may have no time 
of my own. Besides, I am hungry !” 

Marja was enchanted. She still saw Mic- 
haelow, revolver in hand, lie in ambush at every 
corner. Likin’s offer, therefore, was most wel- 
come to her, and she formed at once the plan to 
keep him as long as she could at the restaurant. 

A quarter of an hour later the two strange 
friends were seated at a small table in a splendid 
restaurant in Theatre Square ; they had a snug 
corner to themselves and, both being exhausted. 


194 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


they did ample justice to the excellent dishes 
placed before them, although it was past mid- 
night. 

Likin now told her of his ambitious plans, 
while Marja related her experience and her suf- 
ferings. Likin urged her to come to St. Peters- 
burg, where he said he had a dear, old aunt, 
who would be delighted to find in Marja a friend 
and a companion. Marja promised to do so 
and to let him know as soon as she got there. 

Thus the hours passed and the approaching 
morning emptied the place. They also broke up, 
ordered a cab, and drove to Marja’s home. She 
prayed in silence, thanking God who had 
averted all the threatened calamities. 

At the same time Michaelow left the Red 
Gate, tired and disappointed. He had walked 
up and down there, hour after hour, his mind 
filled with bloody thoughts, his hand firmly 
grasping his revolver. But no Likin had come 
near him. He hated the captain with twofold 
hatred, partly because of his treachery, and 
partly because he felt that he was still supreme 
in Marja’s heart. Absorbed in such bitter 
thoughts, he was slowly wandering down 
the boulevard when he saw a night-cab come 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


195 


dashing down the street. Mechanically he 
looked up and started. Was not that Likin? 
He ran hastily to the barrier of the boulevard, 
where a steep ascent forced the cab to go slowly. 
Yes, no doubt it was Likin, and quickly he raised 
the arm with the revolver. But it was too late. 
The cab was gone ! He ground his teeth and 
shook his closed hand at the man he hated. “ A 
better time will come!” he said to himself. “ We 
shall meet again !” 


CHAPTER XII. 

Winter had come. As yet little snow had 
fallen, but the frost was severe and an icy North- 
wind swept the streets of St. Peterburg. Nature 
was dead. The Neva was covered with a thin 
crust of ice and long; brilliant icicles were hang- 
ing from the eaves of the houses. All announced 
that Winter had begun its death-bringing 
reign ! 

In a comfortably heated room of the vast 
building, in which the historically famous “ Third 
Division” of the Emperor’s private cabinet was 


196 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


installed, we meet the Governor-General, Alex- 
ander Romanvwitch with Drentelen, and Likin, 
who had not only been re-instated in his position 
but promoted to be a Major, thanks to the efforts 
of his kind protector. The General had been 
busy explaining to the younger man how Gov- 
ernment intended to meet the Nihilists, conclud- 
ing thus: “We must avoid everything that 
could be interpreted as a sign of weakness on 
our part. 1 wish we could induce one of these 
terrorists we have captured to make a full con- 
fession, so as to enable us to capture the whole 
gang at once ! But that is unlikely !” 

“ Has Adler confessed anything?” 

“ Nothing! He lies persistently and will not 
betray his companions. I am sure he is afraid. 
By the way, he is all the time talking of a mys- 
terious chief, the head of the Executive Com- 
mittee, from whom he expects wonderful things. 
What can he mean? Have you any idea?” 

“ Why 1” said Likin ironically. “ That sounds 
interesting! Will Your Excellency permit me 
to see this man Adler?” 

“ Certainly, my dear Major ! 1 will send 

word to General Gourko at once. Apropos^ our 
people in Berlin send me warning, that from 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


197 


Zurich reports have reached them of an attempt 
upon the Winter Garden Palace which the Ni- 
hilists contemplate. I do not know what to 
make of such a vague warning. What do you 
think of it ?” 

Likin reflected a moment, and then asked the 
general if he might be permitted to make a 
remark ? 

I beg you will do so!” 

“ I have ascertained that the state of things in 
the basement of the Winter Palace is something 
very extraordinary. Efforts to secure safety 
and to maintain order are perhaps made at the 
main entry and in the neighborhood of the 
Emperor’s own apartments; but in the base- 
ment the servants rule alone and absolutely, and 
the back-stairs and outlets upon the Neva are open 
t ) everybody. The servants, moreover, who 
are all leagued together, lead a genuine banditti 
life ; they steal like magpies, they feast and 
drink every evening with their friends, and the 
Court pays all the expense. Since His Majesty 
has returned from Moscow and resides again in 
the Winter Palace, I must add, these rascals have 
become a little more cautious; nevertheless, a 
bold criminal could easily gain admittance and 
secure a free residence in the palace.” 


198 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Drentelen had listened with increasing aston- 
ishment ; now he arose with unexpected elas- 
ticity from his chair, and cried : “ Not possible ! 
That cannot be so! Should Gourko never have 
heard anything ?” 

“ What I have stated is literally true !” 

These words, which Likin pronounced with 
marked emphasis, were hardly uttered, when a 
lieutenant of gendarmes entered, and handing 
the general a paper, said : “ A dispatch from 
His Excellency, Governor-General Gourko. 
Some policemen are also bringing a man they 
have arrested.’' 

The Head of the Third Division opened the 
large official letter; it stated that the arrested 
man had the day before been caught under sus- 
picious circumstances near the Winter Palace, 
and the enclosed plan had been found upon him. 
General Drentelen opened the plan and ex- 
claimed : “ Why ! This is the Winter Palace !” 

Likin jumped up and drew nearer. “ Indeed,” 
he said, “your Excellency is right, and here, 
near the dining-room, is a small red cross! The 
Berlin warning was evidently not a mere fic- 
tion !” 

Drentelen, whose face had assumed a cold and 
dark expression, said firmly : “ Something must 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


199 


be done at once! 1 request you to examine 
to-night the lower parts of the palace ; take 
your measures at once !” 

Likin bowed and went out. 

Late in the evening of the same day there was 
a strange scene enacted in the vaults of the base- 
ment of the Winter Palace, which the Imperial 
lackeys occupied. The first-assistant of the head- 
cook celebrated his birthday, and kitchen and 
cellar had to lend their aid to do honor to the 
occasion. The menu was the same |as that of 
the Emperor’s table, and the finest and dearest 
wines flowed in streams. Even the soldiers in 
the guard-houses, the palace gendarmes and the 
humblest laborers were invited. The latter as- 
sembled in the cellar, in which a sergeant, the 
oldest of the gendarmes had his habitation. They 
were seated around a table, on which, amid frag- 
ments of a copious meal, a huge punch-bowl was 
steaming; they laughed and joked and made a 
terrible din. Most of the jests were aimed at a 
poor, consumptive-looking workman, called Mat- 
zew, with short, black hair and a simple, impu- 
dent looking face, in which, however, two deep- 
seated, fanatically, fiery eyes were shining 
brightly. 


200 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


“ How did you, stupid peasant, get in here, I 
should like to know?'’ asked a young gendarme. 

The man scratched his head in his embarrass- 
ment. “ Well, it happened as many things hap- 
pen. 1 had learnt something and wanted to earn 
some money.” 

Perhaps people will beg you to accept their 
money ?” 

“Of course! Did they not once engage me 
on the Great Admiral's yacht.” 

“ And then you rose from place to place — I 
see !” 

“Of course! Why not? I understand my 
business !” 

“ All that is true !’’ affirmed the sergeant. 
“ Stephan is a master in his profession. May God 
curse me, if it is not as 1 say !” 

“ We know, we know, dear little father!” said 
another gendarme, patting the sergeant on his 
shoulder. “ He is your protig ^ — want him to be 
your son-in-law. A fine son-in-law !” and a fierce 
laugh went all around the table. 

“ Brother Matzew,” said another man, “ you 
can polish wood to make a flea lose his balance 
on your smooth floor, but you have no manners. 
The Colonel talks to you, and you put your 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


201 


finger in your nose. That is not decent! Is 
that the way to do things?” 

“ Everybody does as he knows. You didn’t 
come into the world a highly-polished man, did 
you ?” 

“Were you perhaps present at my birth?” 
asked the man. 

“ Keep quiet, children I” called out an old man, 
the umpire of the carpenters. “ Did 3 "Ou hear — 
they have caught a Nihilist yesterday, and he 
had a map of the palace in his pocket with a red 
spot on the Czar’s seat at dinner !” 

“Yes, indeed!” cried the sergeant. “That 
red spot no doubt had its meaning. 1 tell you 
we have treason here in the house. I only wish 
I could get hold of one of these cursed people !’! 

The bowl was empty and the sergeant advised 
all to go home. They rose and made a great 
noise in parting. In the kitchen and in the 
guard-house they found all had retired, and 
everybody went to bed. 

Matzew — of course, this was Stephan Turin — 
went with the umpire and two other workmen in- 
to the adjoining cellar, their own workshop and 
sleeping place. The others threw themselves on 
their couches as they were, but Stephan began 


202 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


very slowly to undress. When he felt safe and 
unobserved, he cautiously drew a trunk out 
from under his bed and opened it. On the top 
appeared some linen and a few clothes; these he 
took out, and next produced from the top of his 
boots a number of small parcels, which he cau- 
tiously concealed under some sheets of paper. 
Then he put back the clothes and the linen on 
top and closed the trunk. “ I cannot leave it 
any longer in this place,” he said to himself ; 
“the nitro-glycerine evaporates so very strongly. 
I cannot endure it any longer, and the others 
will be sure to discover that there is something 
wrong concealed here. Besides, this want of 
sleep uses me up before I can do anything.” 
He thought it over a few moments, and then he 
seemed to have come to a decision. His iron 
bedstead was standing across a niche in the wall 
which, as he knew, continued upwards through 
the guard-room, and then formed the main wall of 
the Imperial dining-room. “ This is a natural mine 
that far surpasses all artificial mines!” he said 
to himself. Then he moved the bedstead a little 
into the room to gain space in the niche, pushed 
his trunk into it, which fitted in, and threw 
himself on his bed to sleep the sleep of the just. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


208 


But he was to be discippointed. His nerves 
had barely commenced to get calm when the 
whole basement broke out into animation. Loud 
voices were heard, doors were slammed and 
heavy footsteps resounded overhead. Stephan 
raised his weary, aching head and listened. Now 
he heard steps descending, and the door of the 
sergeant’s room was torn open. 

“ Helloo ! Get up there ! Instantly !” cried a 
commanding voice very roughly. Matzew heard 
the sergeant answer : “ Aye, aye, sir !” and rise 
from his groaning bed. “ Do you live here 
alone!” asked the same voice. “Yes, Sir!” 
“And who lives next door?” “A carpenter, 
called Matzew, solid and industrious !” “ Hold 

your tongue and answer when you are asked ! 
Examine this cellar ! Two men follow me into 
the carpenter’s workshop !” 

Matzew closed his eyes. He was lost ! 
Deadly terror befell him. The door flew open. 
A high officer of gendarmes came in carrying 
a bull’s-eye lantern in his hand and followed by 
soldiers with quickly lighted candles. Matzew 
got up and in a disguised voice and with short- 
sighted eyes, asked : “ What is it?— Fire?” 


ALL OR NOTflINO. 


m 

“ You will soon see what it is!” said the officer 
roughly. “ What is your name ?” 

“Stephan Almarowitch Matzew, Your Excel- 
lency !” 

In the meantime the gendarmes had searched 
the cellar, but of course without finding anything. 

The officer started on hearing the name. It 
was Likin ! But he checked himself and asked : 

“ What are you 

“ A carpenter, Your Excellency ! This is our 
workshop.” ' 

Now Likin noticed the niche. “ Get up, dog !” 
he cried. 

Matzew gave himself up for lost. 

“ What is in that niche ?” 

“ My trunk,” said Matzew, calmly, in his utter 
despair. 

“ Let us see 1” 

The gendarmes drew forth the trunk. Likin 
opened it and looked into it. Then he put his 
hand down, but drew it back at once, and said : 

“ Nothing but clothes, 1 see!” He closed the 
trunk and went away, saying : “ There is noth- 
ing here ; we can go !” 

He went out and the gendarmes followed him. 

“That was close to the gallows!” Matzew 


ALt OR NOTHING. 


205 


said to himself, and went to work automatically 
to replace his trunk and his bed. 

“ These cursed nightly visitations !” swore the 
sergeant. “ They might let us sleep like honest, 
good Christians !” Then each lay down again 
and soon the Winter Palace was quiet and silent 
once more. 

In the morning early the carpenter Matzew 
left the Winter Palace by the Central Gates, but 
before he could get out, he had to establish his 
identity before one of the gendarmes on duty. 
He pretended to have to get lime and varnish, 
and was allowed to go out. Slowly he saun- 
tered across the square, past the slender Victo- 
ria column and turned to the Gate. Here he 
was met by Shell, who seemed to have been 
waiting for him ; they nodded silently to each 
other and went together down the street. 

“ How do you get on ?’* asked Shell. 

'‘Not very well,'’ answered Stephan. “We 
had last night a visitation, and since then every- 
body is searched going in or out. It will be 
hard work to get the dynamite inside.” 

“ I have been ordered by the Executive Com- 
mittee,” said Shell, “ to wait for you every day 


206 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


between five and seven o’clock in the afternoon, 
near the Hotel de France, with the dynamite 
you want. To-day I bring you, moreover, two 
fuses; they are filled with a compound that will 
burn even without an admixture of atmospheric 
air. You simply drive them through the wall of 
your trunk into the dynamite, and light the 
other end. It takes twenty minutes before the 
explosion takes place. This gives you time to 
get out of reach of danger. You will come here 
were I shall be waiting for you, and hold every- 
thing in readiness for your escape. When will 
you be able to do it?” 

That I cannot tell yet. The Czar dines very 
irregularly, and I must be alone in the cellar at 
the time when he sits at table. Besides, I have 
not half enough dynamite.” 

“That you shall have!” said the other man, 
and went away as calmly as if they had quar- 
reled about children’s play. 

Likin knew all that was going on, but he let 
the Nihilists form their projects — they were 
to help him mount the ladder of his ambition. 

It was after Christmas when he once more 
entered the room of his chief. General Drentelen. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


207 

“ You are welcome,” said the latter. “ They have 
discovered a secret printing-office and want a 
military force to arrest the people who carry it 
on. The Nihilists are fighting, so says the tele- 
gram. They say it is almost a battle. You 
must go there instantly and see what is to be 
done. Make haste and bring me your report as 
soon as you get back — an impartial and accurate 
report, Major !” 

Likin was delighted ; he disappeared at once. 
In the street, he jumped into his sleigh and drove 
to the indicated place; but when he reached it, 
the tragedy was nearly at an end. Gendarmes 
and soldiers had taken the house by storm, and 
found in the third story the press of a journal 
called The Will of the People. 

The Nihilists — ten or twelve men under the 
command of Michaelow— had erected a barri- 
cade, and while six drove back the policemen 
and soldiers by a well-aimed fire from their revol- 
vers, the others were busy in the back room, 
destroying papers and types. The struggle had 
lasted nearly two hours; both sides had their 
dead and their wounded. At last every type 
and every sheet of printed paper was destroyed, 
and now the Nihilists, whose ammunition was 


208 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


giving out, rushed, Michaelow at the head, upon 
the attacking force, to fight their way through 
them. The struggle in the passage and on the 
stairs was fearful. The soldiers were in their 
own way, and could not use their guns for want 
of space. Still, they were ten to one, and soon 
overpowered the Nihilists. Only Michaelow 
succeeded in reaching the second landing. 
Here two soldiers were standing, who instantly 
dropped their guns in order to seize him, but 
they did not know their adversary. He hurled 
his empty revolver at one, so that he staggere'^' 
back against the wall, and falling upon the other, 
he pitched him down the steps. Then seizing 
the balusters he glided down, reached the hall 
and was near the door. 

At this moment Likin’s sleigh dashed up ; he 
was surprised to find no guard, but an excited 
crowd of men, who cried and cursed and were 
seemingly not disinclined to take the part of the 
Nihilists. Within, however, guns were fired 
and pistols, with loud cries. Quick as lightning 
the Major was out of the sleigh and at the house- 
door. Here he was met by Michaelow ; both 
measured each other with furious eyes; then the 
Nihilist gave his adversary a blow upon the 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


209 


chest, which made him stagger then slip on the 
smooth stone-step, and sink down on his knee. 
Michaelow instantly jumped over him and disap- 
peared in the crowd. 

This event had taken place with such lightning 
speed that the spectators only realized what had 
happened when the Nihilist had broken through 
the crowd and was near the end of the street. 

Likin shouted to the people to catch the run- 
away ; now soldiers and policemen came out of 
the house and pursued Michaelow. It was a 
regular hunt, and all cried: “Stop him ! Stop 
him !” But the young man never lost his pres- 
ence of mind ; he was near the corner of the 
street and cried to those he met: “Stop him! 
Stop him I He is round the corner !“ These 
people, of course, knew no better and joined 
him in the chase. He cried again and again : 
“ Stop him !” and the crowd repeated the cry, 
but nobody thought of seizing Michaelow. 
Thus they went on, street after street. At last 
his strength was exhausted ; his pursuers drew 
nearer and nearer, and tried to enlighten those 
who were misled ; threatening voices behind 
him taught him that this bore fruit. Watchmen 
became attentive ; cab-drivers noticed him ; the 


210 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


situation was critical ; he panted and his breath 
left him at times. 

At last he reached the Latinaja. On the right 
corner stood a house which, he knew, had a gar- 
den that extended all the way to the next street. 
He had not studied St. Petersburg for nothing ; 
he knew it better than the most experienced 
police-officer. He made a desperate effort, and 
with one leap sprang up the steps. Fortunately, 
the door was half open; he ran in, shut it and 
pushed the latch to close it. Then he ran up 
the first flight of steps. Here his strength gave 
out ; he tottered against the nearest door, it 
gave way and he entered a pleasant room, in 
which a young man was standing, who looked 
out into the street, watching the eager crowd. 

Prince Peter Michaelowitch, who was living 
in St. Petersburg, where he pursued his studies 
most diligently, came to meet the intruder very 
angrily. But he stopped, amazed. Was this 
not the light-haired workman he had see in Mos- 
cow and then again at Dulino? But now he* 
wore no blouse, but was in full evening-costume, 
and looking very elegant. Hence he asked more 
gently: “How dare you intrude here? What 
do you want ?” 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


211 


** For God’s sake, save me!” gasped Mic- 
haelow, “ I am pursued — 1 am a Nihilist — let me 
go — through your garden — through the house — ” 

Heavy blows rained upon the house-door. 
Prince Peter felt sorry for the man, but he hesi- 
tated. Then he asked ; “ Is it a vulgar crime 
on account of which you are pursued ?” 

“ No.!” 

“ Upon your honor?’ 

“ Upon my word of honor !” 

The blows on the door and the cries in the 
street increased in violence ; steps were heard 
ip the passage, it was high time. 

“ Come !” said Peter, and helped the fugitive 
to get up. 

Then the latter made a supreme effort and 
moving at first feebly, but with every step bet- 
ter, he followed the prince, who led him through 
several rooms to a back staircase. “ This leads 
to a small, open door below, through which you 
get into the garden !” 

Michaelow seized his hand and pressed it. “ 1 
thank you ! As sure as my name is Alexander 
Michaelow, I shall not forget the service you 
have rendered me to-day !” 

Peter locked the door and returned to his 


ALL OK NOTHINGS. 

room. He had not been very wise in doing- 
what he had done, nevertheless he felt pleased. 
Michaelow’s face had from the first won his good 
opinion, and he said to himself, “ Why should 1 
not? I am not of the police!” 

In the meantime the subterranean work in the 
Winter Palace was going on. A week later, 
February 5 th, Shell was standing at his post, 
waiting for the carpenter. It was a gloomy, 
cold afternoon and he was shivering. Six o’clock 
struck. He went to meet his companion. The 
Square was deserted ; on the other side rose in 
sombre majesty the gigantic Winter Palace. All 
the windows were brilliantly illuminated, and 
elegant carriages were entering, one by one, the 
chief entrance. Shell remembered having read 
in the newspapers that the Prince of Hesse would 
reach the Capital to-day, and dine with the Prince 
of Bulgaria at the Winter Palace. These car- 
riages probably contained the Czar’s illustrious 
guests. 

Shell looked at his watch ; it was half-past six. 
A stender figure approached him from the direc- 
tion of the palace ; a few minutes later he recog- 
nized his friend ; but he also saw at once, how 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


213 


pale he looked. He advanced to meet nim, and 
heard a voice say, in a whisper : “ Ready !” 

At the same moment a fearful explosion took 
place behind them ; the earth shook beneath 
them, and they turned to the Winter Palace. It 
was still standing, but the walls seemed to totter ; 
the lights had all gone out in an instant, and 
dense clouds of smoke rose from the roof. The 
Square was as dark as night, and out of the dark- 
ness rose cries and crashing noises, heart-rending 
groans, calls for help, and a running and hurry- 
ing that the two Nihilists felt appalled. 

For a while they stood still, then wild terror 
seized them, they turned and fled; for some 
time wandering thoughtless, senseless, through 
the streets ; then approaching the Neva, they 
crept dowti on the ice to reach their place of 
reunion as quickly as possible. At last they 
arrived, but here the carpenter broke down and 
fainted. When his senses returned, he jumped 
up from the sofa on which they had laid him, 
and asked wildy : “ Is he dead ?” Nobody could 
answer his question. The companions, who had 
been assembled here, knew nothing of the 
attempt. At last other members came, till the 
small building could hardly hold them all. Last 


214 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


of all Michaelow came and Mi row, looking dark 
and solemn. Silence reigned in the room, and 
all crowded around the leader. Once more the 
carpenter asked : “ Is he dead ?” 

“No!” came the answer, in subdued fury. 
“Chance has interfered with your work. The 
Czar owes his life to the Prince of Hesse. His 
guest was a quarter of an hour too late and the 
mine exploded as the Czar entered the passage 
which leads to the dining-hall. A few minutes 
later and we should have achieved our aim. As 
it is, we have killed some fifty or sixty innocent 
soldiers.” 

The two leaders withdrew into a window 
embrasure, there to consult, and after a few 
minutes they made known the result: ‘‘All who 
are in any way compromised by the event, will 
instantly flee into the provinces ; there they will 
lie still and unknown, till the feet of the police 
are lame and their lungs exhausted. They will 
everywhere make propaganda, from committees 
and clubs, to prepare a general rising. The 
Executive Committee will, in the meantime, 
establish a new printing-office, issue proclama- 
tions and organize the party.” 

The Emperor looked broken after this renewed 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


215 


attempt at his life. He had aged fearfully ; his 
crown had become a burden, which he was no 
longer able to bear. He was tired unto death, 
and yearned for peace. 

Marja knew little of what was going on. Since 
she had come to St. Peterburg, she led a quiet 
life which knew no changes but the ups and 
downs of her own hopes. The aunt with whom 
she lived, thanks to Likin’s tender care, was a 
quiet, good soul, who had but few Wants and 
few affections ; she left her guest free and 
undisturbed, claiming but now and then some 
trifling assistance. The major came but rarely 
to see her, but when he came, he was kind and 
affectionate ; he told her all that concerned him 
and treated her very much like a sister. Marja 
was grateful, but, alas ! she could not master her 
heart ; it would beat high again when he came 
and yet she knew that he must lead another life 
in the great world, of which he told her nothing. 
That he had, aside from his secret, political plans, 
other projects also, in which the passions of the 
heart played a prominent part — of that, of 
course, she knew nothing. 

One day, when he reached home, Ivan met 
him with a telegram ; he tore it open and read : 


216 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


“ Pa’s rheumatism so bad, decided to leave at 
once for Wiesbaden. Cannot leave without see- 
ing you ! Come instantly ! Love and kisses. 

“ Anna.” 

“ How long before the Moscow courier-train 
starts ?” Likin asked his servant. 

Ivan looked at his watch and replied : ” One 
hour !” 

“ Well, get my small trunk ready !” 

While Ivan was closing this, Likin wrote, 
rapidly ; 

“ Will be there to-morrow early. Expect you 
at eleven on Arbat Square. A thousand loves. 

“ Gregor.” 

Then he read the dispatch over once more, 
gave it to Ivan, and told him to send it off 
instantly. “You can take my sleigh !” he added. 

While Ivan hastened to the telegraph-office, 
his master was busy packing. Suddenly he heard 
steps approaching, opened the door and saw 
Prince Peter. He looked greatly excited, and 
then stopped in consternation. “ You are not 
going away !” he said. 

“Yes, 1 will have to go to Inla.” 

Peter breathed more freely. “ Then you must 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


217 


pass through Moscow, that is nice, I' want to ask 
you a favor. Maman has just telegraphed me 
tliat father must go abroad immediately. They 
want me to come home, but I cannot, 1 cannot! 
I presume it is not so very bad ; rheumatism is 
not dangerous. But 1 do not like to look heart- 
less. That is why I wish you to look up my 
parents and to make my excuses. You can say 
1 am not well — or anything. You will do it?” 

“ Certainly I will — but why can you not come 
yourself?” . 

“ That I cannot tell you ; but it is impossible.” 
He walked up and down in the room, his excite- 
ment increasing. “ I have sworn — ah ! if she had 
telegraphed ! But now ! No, I cannot possibly 
go — I must show Plena how much I am in earn- 
est with my studies ! Even if I should not see 
my poor father for a year or so!” 

Likin looked at the young man in great sur- 
prise. Then he said, shrugging his shoulders: 
“ Of course, you must know best. I am entirely 
at your service. But you ought at all events to 
telegraph at once that you are indisposed, and 
that r, who shall pass through Moscow, will sup- 
ply details.” 

‘‘Yes, ril do that at once! I thank you — I 


218 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


thank you heartily. Give my love to my peo- 
ple !” 

He rushed out. Likin looked after him, 
smiling. “ Will not little Plena open her eyes 
wide when I turn up to-morrow in his place. 
What a talent people have to worry each other ! 
Then his thoughts turned to Anna. “ I am 
rather glad to get a\vay from here. Everything 
is getting ready for a catastrophe. My fate must 
wait to be decided till after the crisis. She can- 
not take the place by my side until I ani stand- 
ing on the summit and all the dark ways are 
behind me !” 


CHAPTER XIIL 

In the fourth story of a large, old tenement- 
house in the Teleshnaja, men had been very busy 
for some months. A number of Nihilists were 
living here in five rooms, with a certain Hesse 
Helf. The two front rooms alone looked like 
living-rooms, the others had been changed into a 
laboratory, where one of them was hard at 
work all day long amid machines and retorts, 
bottles and phials, pipes, balls and cartridges. 
He himself wore a miserable summer-paletot 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


219 


and his hair and beard were sadly neglected. 
On several long tables perhaps a dozen remark- 
ably odd-looking personages were likewise hard 
at work, manufacturing explosives, bombs and 
shells. Toward evening the dangerous work 
was apt to cease ; some of the men, after they 
had had their supper, lay down on the tables or 
on the floor and slept there. Others went out 
into the open air to test their work and to prac- 
tice the throwing of shells and bombs. 

Hesse Helf was rarely at home. Wrapped in 
a wide cloak and a large leather-bag in her hand, 
she went out to get from the newly-established 
printing-office newspapers, proclamations and 
single sheets. These, with amazing skill, she 
distributed everywhere, but mainly in factories, 
large warehouses and wherever numbers of peo- 
ple were assembled. Others, tied together in 
small, harmless-looking parcels, but carefully 
sealed, she dropped, two or three at the utmost, 
into tlhe many post-office stations in the city ; or, 
she would go from house to house, where Nihil- 
ists were living, secret friends of the revolution 
or officials, from the amply decorated general and 
Privy-Councilor to the humblest watchman or 
mail-driver, and, under the plea of benevolent 


220 


A.LL OR NOTHING. 


contributions, she would collect larger or smaller 
amounts for the “Great Cause.” She went 
about this so openly and frankly, that she escaped 
all the more readily the watchful eyes of the 
police. 

During her absence from home, Sophie Per- 
owska appeared and took her seat at a window 
which was on the outside provided with several 
mirrors, by which she could watch the whole 
street up and down, and move at will the secret 
sign which permitted or forbade the entrance of 
visitors. Mirow, Shell and other leaders were 
also in the habit of meeting here, to discuss new 
plans and to devise necessary measures. 

As a matter of course the owner of the house 
and the janitor were both members of the 
so-called club. 

Outside of these, however, few Nihilists knew 
of the existence of this house aud its mysterious 
tenants, and so far not one those who had been 
arrested had proved traitor. How few Russians 
even had the slightest idea of what, in the year 
- 1880, was going on in the highest circles of the 
Empire, in the Imperial family, and in the lowest 
homes of the people ! 

A few days before Christmas the Executive 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


221 


Committee met to hold a secret council. He had 
sent a letter to tell them that Adler had hanged 
himself in his cell, after betraying all he knew to 
Major Likin. All were advised to be extremely 
cautious, and especially to adopt some profession 
or handicraft, as the police were most suspicious 
of men who seemed to have no duties to per- 
form. 

“ Likin is our most formidable adversary !” 
said Michaelow, after the letter had been read. 
“ If any one of these contemptible police-crea- 
tures has forfeited his life, he is the man ! I only 
wonder he has not yet made use of Adler’s con- 
fessions; he does not generally hesitate, and this 
delay now, makes me think it must be due to 
His influence !” 

Shell shook his head mistrustfully. I cannot 
reconcile myself to Likin’s strange conduct. It 
is true he has often persecuted us and with real 
bloodthirstiness, but after all only when, in his 
position, he could not help himself. And, on the 
other hand, what does his conduct in the Winter 
Palace mean? Stephan swears he left his trunk 
unsearched on purpose, as if saying : “ I know 
what is in this, but I will not see it.” This 
makes me think that our Chief must have some 


222 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


influence or power over Likin, and his present 
inactivity confirms my faith !” 

Michaelow and Mirow looked at each other. 
“That would be strange indeed,” said the latter, 
“and new proof of the watchful activity of our 
brother-in-blood.” Michaelow was not con- 
vinced, but said nothing. 

“The new bombs are ready,” broke in Shell, 
“ and we can prepare for the great blow.” 

Mirow asked what preparations had been 
made and received this answer : 

“Our friends have established a regular shop 
for the sale of cheese in the Mengen House, and 
have rented a roomy cellar underneath the shop 
for business purposes. Their passports are in 
perfect order and their business is so flourishing 
that everybody takes it to be an old and long- 
established concern ; in fact, therefore, they 
might at any time begin the undermining cf the 
street. They need now three stout workmen 
for the underground-work, and perhaps one 
technically skilled laborer. The mines under 
the Stone Bridge have been begun under my 
own supervision, but progress is slow, because 
we have only a few night-hours during which 
we can work from the niche in the wharf. I 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


223 


wish to ask Sasha to relieve me and assume the 
direction of tlie work there in my place.” 

“ I am ready to do that !” said Michaelow. 

“ My idea is,” continued Shell, “ that these two 
mines ought to be considered as merely auxiliary 
works. Since they can be of importance only 
when the Emperor should by chance come near 
the Mengen House or the Stone Bridge, I 
deem the hand-bombs most valuable, and mean 
to devote myself exclusively to this weapon. I 
propose to place at least six brave, death-defying 
men in a row alongside of one of the roads 
which the Czar is apt to take. Sophie and I will 
stand at either end of the line, and give the sig- 
nal that the Emperor is approaching: I, by wip- 
ing my forehead with my handkerchief, and she, 
by waving her veil. As soon as this is done, the 
men with the bombs try to get to their places close 
behind the soldiers, who line the streets through 
which the Czar drives. A second signal from 
the end to which he approaches, warns the first 
man to throw his bomb at the Czar’s carriage. 
The people will instantly rush forward, and in 
this confusion the other men will be able to 
throw their shells also, and thus complete the 
work. Our victim cannot possibly escape ! But 


224 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


as these picked men will have to practice long 
and carefully, I think the execution of my plan 
should be postponed till February. The one 
thing 1 need is the certain information that the 
Czar will go somewhere — to hold a parade, to 
attend a ceremony, or the like.” 

“ Nothing easier than that !” cried Mirow. 

He will furnish that information!” 

“ I only hope it will be more trustworthy than 
that he gave us in Moscow,” said Michaelow 
bitterly. 

“ My brother-in-blood was not to blame then,” 
replied Mirow. “ It is well known now that the 
Czar on that occasion changed his mind most 
suddenly, when quite near to Moscow alread}*. 
We can certainly trust in Him T" 

“After the Emperor’s death we meet here,” 
continued Shell calmly, “ to consult on the rising 
of the people. The morning after we shall con- 
vene a general meeting of working-men and 
the people-at-large, and — put ourselves at their 
head to take the arsenal and the barracks by 
storm. To avoid unnecessary bloodshed, I have 
already entered into a compact with a number 
of officers of the Guards and of the Line, who 
are ready to surrender the depots of arms and 



I 





STANDING BEFOKE THE CZAK HE THREW kSOMETHINQ AT HIS FEET.— .S'e« Page ^<11 



ALL OK NOTHING. 


225 


to come over to us together with all their men. 
We are quite sure that the people will follow 
us by hundred thousands ; 1 have prepared them 
and feel confident. A week after the event we 
inform our friends in Moscow and the prov- 
inces, so that they can rise at the first signal. 
And if St. Petersburg is once in our power, the 
game is won!” Shell was in an ecstasy, his eyes 
shone with inner fire. 

“ You have forgotten one very essential 
point,” said Mirow coolly. “ What place do you 
assign Him, our head? I think he ought, first 
of all, to hear your plan and not only give his 
consent, but also tell us what he can do to 
assist us in our enterprise? At all events, we 
cannot act without his approval.” 

“Very well,” said Shell eagerly, “you can 
settle that !” 

Mirow promised and the meeting adjourned. 

In the meantime the Old Year had passed 
away, and the New Year was coming in — an 
occasion which in all parts of Russia assembles 
friends and companions to a merry feast. Thus 
Prince Peter Michaelowitch also had been 
invited to at least a dozen houses, and had at 
last decided to join a small company at Likin’s 


226 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


house. And he had no cause of regret, for he 
had found there a few officers of all arms, who, 
after a sumptuous supper and a ^^alatable 
champagne-bowl, had entered upon a most 
interesting conversation. 

Likin was especially attractive to-night, prov- 
ing an admirable host, full of amiability and 
with rare tact leading every guest to appear to 
greatest advantage. Prince Peter was, however, 
most struck by the remarkable freedom with 
which these men treated the State, the Govern- 
ment and even the Emperor, and how calmly 
they discussed questions, the mere mention of 
which could have terrified more cautious souls. 

Peter liked this amazingly and, although he 
could not approve of all their doctrines, he still, 
contrary to his habit, drank more than he was 
well able to bear and heartily joined in their 
debates. This made him consent, when a 3^oung 
officer, rather full of sweet wine, proposed to 
him to go and witness, soon after midnight, a 
little popular festival, at which they would meet 
a number of friends, students, officers and others, 
in company with their little lad^’-friends. It was 
worth seeing, he added ; and soon after the two 
young men took French-leave and, wrapped up 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


227 


in their furs, were driving, at a furious rate, 
through the heaviest snow-storm of the winter, 
to unknown parts of the city. 

The icy-cold night air had sobered Prince 
Peter a little, and at the same time revived his 
spirits, that were beginning to flag. When the 
sleigh, therefore, stopped before a brilliantly 
illumined house, he sprang quickly out, with a 
rather supercilious air and a feeling as if he 
were going to embark in a delightful adventure. 
The two young men saw nothing but servants 
at first, but in an ante-room they met a person 
to whom the officer said something in a whisper, 
that sounded like a parole, and then they entered 
a large room, full of gentlemen and ladies, 
simple men and women, all dressed in a very 
artless way and assuming corresponding manners. 
Students with long, dishevelled hair and 
spectacles unsteadily seated on insignificant 
noses, young merchant’s clerks, dressed like 
dandies and workmen in soiled blouses and 
high boots, were sitting in long rows before 
white bottles of vodhi and streaming glasses of 
tea. Others were merrily dancing in the centre 
of the hall, their girls in their arms. The ladies 
seemed to affect short hair and tailor-made 


228 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


dresses, but altogether, every class of St. Peters- 
burg society, the very highest perhaps excepted, 
seemed to be represented in this strange 
medley. 

When Prince Peter entered, a strikingly hand- 
some young man approached him ; on his arm 
hung a pale but most elegant lady, who evidently 
belonged to the aristocracy. 

“ Welcome, Susha,” he said to the young officer 
who brought the prince. I see you are not 
alone.*' 

“One of my friends. Prince Peter Michaelo- 
witch." 

Peter bowed courteously, but was surprised 
when the new man was not presented in return. 

The handsome man caught his look of surprise, 
and said, smiling: “ The mere formalities of the 
great world have no currency among us, but, not 
to leave you in doubt, my name here is Shell, and 
this is Sophie Perowsha.” 

The lady nodded kindly, and said : “You are 
welcome. Prince; we know that we are indebted 
to you for our friend Sasha’s escape, and we are 
glad to be able to express our gratitude.” 

Peter did not trust his ears. The name of Shell 
was strange to him, but Sophie Perowsha ! Was 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


229 


that not the famous Nihilist, whose name was so 
often mentioned in the newspapers, and whom 
the police was so eagerly looking for? And 
Sasha — was that not the blonde working-man, 
with whom Likin had something to do! Where 
on earth was he. Prince Peter ? In a crowd of 
revolutionists and Nihilists, and their welcome- 
guest! His red face turned pale, his eyes wan- 
dered from face to face in speechless consterna- 
tion. But, before he could collect his thoughts, 
his guide whispered into his ear: “ No scandal! 
Keep quiet ! This promises to be highly inter- 
esting ! Let us look around and then we can go 
again.” And he drew Prince Peter with him to 
walk around the room. 

On the way they met Michaelow, who came up 
to Peter most cordially and, shaking hands, said : 
“ Come with me, friends!” 

Before Peter knew where he was, he found 
himself seated around a table at the lower end 
of the room, in company with Shell, Sophie and 
Marja also, who had yielded to repeated invita- 
tions to visit this place. Susha felt uncomfort- 
ble in his uniform and tried to hide himself; 
Peter looked in silent distress at the moving 
crowd. Were these really vile criminals, men 


230 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


guilty of high treason, ladies bent upon assassin- 
ation? Those who sat near him were unmistak- 
ably ladies and gentlemen, in appearance and in 
manners. In the meantime he had sobered down 
sufficiently to see with how much fine tact these 
people affected not to notice his ill-concealed 
consternation, and how delicately they refrained 
from embarrassing him by too loud signs of their 
delight at seeing him in their midst. 

Peter was uncomfortable because he saw that 
he was no longer unknown here, but matters 
were not so very bad after all. Why should he 
not come and take a look at these people and 
their amusements? Susha was right; these 
scenes were interesting ; “ an hour in the midst 
of these people, even if they be Nihilists, is by 
no means unpleasant!” 

The music paused, and the dancing couples 
rested. Peter ordered a bottle of Selters, and 
when asked if his noble deed of granting an un- 
known fugitive a free passage through his rooms 
had caused him serious trouble with the police, 
he denied it eagerly, adding: “ Not at all ; they 
have left me entirely in peace!” 

“I am glad to hear that,” said Michaelow ; 
“ but'I beg to assure you that I had resolved to 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


231 


surrender to the police, if you, the innocent 
helper, should have been held in any way respon- 
sible for my escape.” 

Peter looked at him in amazement. “ Would 
you really have done that?” he asked. 

“ Of course,” replied the Nihilist simply ; 
“ every decent man would have done that!” 

Such a sentiment in such a crowd and at such 
a place ! Peter was more and more surprised, 
and regretted less and less to have followed 
Susha. And soon he had no longer time to in- 
dulge in reflection — one characteristic scene 
after the other enchained his attention, as it held 
ear and eye captive, and elicited now loud 
applause and now loud laughter. 

First a fine-looking couple appeared in the 
centre of the now empty hall, and was greeted 
on all sides with hearty welcome. A young, 
active working-man, in a red shirt, a black caftan 
and high patent-leather boots, and a pretty young 
girl in the picturesque costume of a peasant of 
Southern Russia. They took a position oppo- 
site each other; the man clapped his hands and 
a violin began in quick, changeful rhythms, a 
melody which now sighing and wailing drew on 
in long-sustained sounds, and then again shouted. 


232 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


as it were, in very quick time, and finally passed 
into a wild, disconnected theme, adapted to a 
dance such as Peter had never yet seen. 

It was one of those national dances that are at 
home on the banks of the Volga, and represent 
the joy and the grief, the bliss and the woe, the 
conflict and the triumph of true love. The 
dancer protested pantomimically his love ; he 
fell on one knee and raised his hands imploringly, 
but she, the adored, scornfully refused to hear 
him. Now he jumped up, furious, stamping 
with his feet in wild wrath and rushing upon 
her, when she fled in terror and escaped from 
him like a subtly winding serpent. Now his 
rage changed into sorrow — he renounced his 
love, he went away, he forsook her ! 

This she had not willed, and now began a co- 
quettish luring and tempting on her part. He 
struggled against his own heart, but he suc- 
cumbed. Intoxicated by her success she tried 
the game a second time ; she fled the eager 
pursuer, and yet incited his passion. At last she 
surrendered. They fell into each other’s arms 
and parted again ; he produced a large, brightly 
colored handkerchief, and she tore her fichu from 
her shoulders ; they waved the two against each 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


233 


other, now embracing and kissing, now repelling 
and fleeing, till at last all resistance was over- 
come, and falling into each other’s arms, they 
whirled around faster and faster, at a furious 
rate — and yet to the last instant decently and 
gracefully, to the delight of everybody ! A 
storm of applause arose, the whole assembly 
seemed to have been seized by the passionate 
excitement of the two dancers. 

The cries and exclamations had not )'et ceased 
when suddenly an old peasant with long, grizzly 
hair, a guitar in his hand, appeared in the middle 
of the room. Quickly men and women, youths of 
both sexes, gathered around him ; he touched the 
chords, giving out low, soft sounds, and with one 
acclaim all cried out : “ The song of the birch!” 
“ Ah, my birch, my own dear birch !” was heard 
all over the room, first in sad, melancholy 
strains, then, of a sudden, merry and exulting, 
and at last dying out in mad, shapeless confusion. 
And while the old man’s eyes were rolling and 
he was stamping his feet and rocking the upper 
part of his body to and fro in unison with the 
music, the people around him formed a thunder- 
ing chorus and repeated the burden of the 
song. 


234 


ALL OK NOTHING. 


And again the scene changed. A dozen young 
men turned up suddenly at the place where the 
old peasant had just been standing, bowing right 
and left in a clumsy manner, and resting their 
hands on their hips. ** Kasatchok ! Kasatchok !” 
they called out to the music, and at once there 
began a jvell-known Cossack dance. And the 
3^ouths performed the most cunning dance with 
heel and toe ; squatted down and jerked out one 
foot after the other, jumped up again and, re- 
maining stiff and straight with the body, made 
the legs perform feats equal to those of re- 
nowned ballet-dancers. The time grew quicker 
and quicker, they leaped higher and higher, now 
sinking almost into the ground and at once 
again hanging apparently in the air ; at last one 
after the other fell, as if by acddent, upon his 
feet, bowed and ran away, till all had vanished 
as if by magic. 

This dance was irresistibly comic and elicited 
the loudest laughter and the wildest applause. 
The tears ran down many a cheek, and others 
laughed till they were exhausted. 

Prince Peter had entirely" forgotten where and 
among whom he was ; he had been carried away 
by the joy and the happiness of the people 


ALT. OR NOTHING. 


235 


around him. He clapped his hands, and felt as 
if he might, at slight temptation, be himself made 
to join the merry crowd. But Susha told him 
that now came the mazurka, which closed the 
performance, and he began to think of escaping. 

It was late, very late, morning was approach- 
ing, when a light hand touched his shoulder, 
and Shell said, with delight in his eyes and in 
his voice : “ Have not men like these the right to 
be free? Can you say ‘ No,’ Prince.^” 

Peter h.ad no answer to give. His mind was 
unclear, his thoughts were in confusion. He 
could only nod kindly, bow to half-a-dozen men 
whom he knew and leave the hall, not ill-satisfied 
with what he had seen. But when he was sit- 
ting in his sleigh, and drove home through the 
dawning winter-morning, he sighed deeply and 
said to himself: “Yes, these people have the 
right to be free, but not by such means as you, 
unfortunate men, have chosen !” 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Sophie Perowsha took the nearest way to the 
Nevski Prospect, hurrying on, because the hour 
agreed upon with Shell for an important meet- 
ing was past already. Eagerly she looked out 
for the beloved one, and at last she saw him, still 
afar off, near one of the gigantic iron horses 
which adorn that bridge. She was in the act of 
waving her handkerchief, when her heart sud- 
denly ceased to beat and her foot paused, for 
she saw a police-officer go up to Shell and lay 
his hand on his shoulder. 

And now happened something utterly unex- 
pected, terrible. Shell indignantly shook off the 
man’s hand, crying out something at the same 
time. The officer seized Shell by the breast, a 
shrill whistle was heard, two policemen fell upon 
the prisoner from behind, seizing his arms and 
[256] 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


237 


tying them in an instant behind his back; a 
sleigh drove up, quick as lightning ; the next 
moment Shell was lifted into it, the policeman 
took a seat by him, an officer of the Guards 
jumped up behind, and away they went, down 
the Canal. The arrest had been made as quick 
as a thought will flash through our mind. 

Sophie was standing there, rigidly fixed and 
with wide-open eyes, when the sleigh was 
already out of sight. She wanted to cry out, 
but she could not; her knees gave way and she 
had to lean against a lamp-post. Then she made 
an effect and walked on mechanically. She felt 
as if the event which she had just witnessed was 
crushing her under its overwhelming weight. 
“They have taken him — my Andrej — my An- 
drusha !” 

This was the one thought that filled her soul 
and mind and heart, as she went on, on, with 
weary steps, with a deadly pale face, her eyes 
rigidly looking before her, as in a dream. 

Repeatedly she knocked against people corn- 
ing in the opposite direction, but she felt it not, 
she knew it not ; her mind was paralyzed, all her 
sensations were deadened. Thus she wandered 
aimlessly through many streets till she found 


238 


ALL OR KOTHING. 


herself before a small house, where Marja 
Antonowna was living. She paused. What 
should she do? Suddenly her weariness over- 
came her — she could not take another step. 
Mechanically she rang the bell. A maid opened 
the door and took her at once to her mistress. 

Marja was sitting at the window, with some 
work in her hands, and looking up as her friend 
entered, she cried: “Great God! What has 
happened ?” Then she jumped up and repeated 
the question. 

Sophie.’s lips trembled when she answered, as if 
absent-minded : “ Nothing special ! They have 

taken him — my Andrej — him — my Andrej — that 
is all ! 1 knew it was to come !” 

Marja turned pale unto death and stood for 
a moment as if she had had a paralytic shock. 
Then she rushed up to Sophie, embraced her 
and gently drew her down on the sofa. “ Shell 
arrested ! Poor, dear Sophie !” she whispered 
tenderly. But when she tried to kiss her, the poor 
girl sank helpless to the floor — she had fainted. 
Marja jumped up, seized a pitcher and was 
about to sprinkle some water on her lifeless 
features when the poor woman came to herself, 
sat up and looked around wondering. Then she 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


239 


saw Marja, and instantly the horror stood once 
more before her mind’s eye! She could not rise, 
but she fell upon her knees, and when Sophie 
came near her, she embraced her waist with both 
her arms, pressed her down upon the sofa and 
hid her head in her lap. 

Thus the two friends remained a long time. 
Marja wept and stroked Sophie’s soft hair, but 
the other found no tears; she could not utter a 
sound ; her body trembled and shook, and her 
hands grasped her friend’s dress convulsively. 

And now the latter began to reason with her : 
it was not known yet whether the police knew 
how important their capture was ; nothing was 
lost yet, if the friends could keep cool heads ; 
they had most influential friends in high places, 
she herself would at once take steps that might 
lead to Shell’s release. 

And even if a trial should be ordered, there was 
still reason to hope. Marja was thinking of 
Likin, and fiercely trusted that at her prayer he 
would use his whole influence in Shell’s favor. 

Sophie listened in silence, but shook her head 
more and more energetically, till at last she 
broke out : “Do not deceive me and yourself! 
Andrej would not be the man whom I love, if he 


240 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


should ask for mercy or accept a favor ! He will 
openly avow his convictions and demand his 
rights, and that — that means death I’' 

The whole slender form shuddered once more 
from head to foot, then she rose, passed her 
hand over her deadly pale face and said : “ I 
thank you for your sympathy. Forget the 
weakness 1 have shown ; it was unworthy of him. 
1 have done with life, and my one care now will 
be — to get to him. I wish him to see that I was 
not altogether unworthy of him, and when it 
comes to a decision, I shall be by his side !” 

She bent over Marja, kissed her forehead and 
left the room. In the street she hailed a sleigh, 
and drove to the headquarters of the party. 
With compressed lips, but energetic decision in 
her face, she went upstairs, where she found 
Mirow and Alexander Michaelow, who were 
nervously walking up and down. This was to be 
the last, decisive meeting of the Executive Com- 
mittee, and Shell kept them all waiting. 

Sophie was at one beset with questions, to 
which she curtly answered : “ He will never 
come any more. They have arrested him just 
now !” 

The two men started in amazement. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


241 


“That is not possible!” said Mirow, and his 
voice trembled. “ Is it really so?” he added. 
“ An irreparable loss !” 

“ I witnessed the whole m3^self,” continued 
Sophie, with unalterable energy, “and I have 
come to you here, to tell you that I mean to 
carry out all that my Andrej had prepared.” 

Michaelow had sunk into a chair, and held his 
hands before his face ; now he suddenly jumped 
up, exclaiming : “ That is Likin’s work I” and 

began to run wildly up and down in the room. 

Mirow, however, alwa^^s calmest when most 
excited, said : “ Let us keep calm, Sasha! Let us 
put forth our full strength at once! There is but 
one way to save Shell, and that is by a quick 
decisive victory over tyranny! We must not 
lose a minute !” 

“ You are right, Leo Mirow ! Instead of com- 
plaining, let us think how Shell can be set free, 
secretly or by force. Let the Government’s chal- 
lenge have an instant answer ! Let it sound to 
them like the last trump of judgment! And I 
say : Woe to them if they touch a hair on Shell’s 
head!” 

“ The answer to this act of violence shall come 


242 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


from me,” said Sophie, raising her voice ; “ I alone 
have the right to do so !” 

Both of the men watched Sophie with admira- 
tion ; her wide-open eyes seemed to penetrate 
the far Future, and her figure seemed to grow 
visibly. “ 1 alone know Shell’s plans in all their 
details,” she continued, as the men remained 
silent, “and I feel the strength in me to carry 
them out. Has He not been heard from yet?” 

“We have received the long-expected note,” 
replied Michaelow, “and that makes your news 
so very painful to us.” 

“What does he say?” Sophie asked, anx- 
iously. 

Michaelow took a letter from the table, and 
read : 

“ Companions : 

“ The day has come ! Day after to-morrow, 
March ist, A. will drive to the Riding School in 
the Engineers’ Palace, to view a parade. At two 
in the afternoon he returns to the Winter Palace, 
crossing the Catherine Canal and the Stable 
Bridge. This arrangement is final, and 1 advise 
you to profit by it. The days of forbearance are 
gone. Do your duty, and I shall do mine. As 
soon as you have succeeded and, at the head of 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


243 


the people, occupy the Government buildings, I 
reinforce you with five thousand well-armed 
men. Then you shall know who I am. Long 
live the free people ! “ /.” 

Sophie had listened attentively, and exclaimed : 
“ The first of March will be a day of horror and 
of joy ! It belongs to me ! Do you take care 
that the day bears its proper fruit. Prepare the 
rising of the people ! I know we shall be vic- 
torious !" 

She turned and went down-stairs. In the 
street, she re-entered her sleigh and drove home. 
It had grown dark in the meantime, and the gas 
blazed up in the lamps. When she reached her 
modest room, she threw herself on her sofa and 
remained long absorbed in silent meditation. 
Then she rose, and raising her hands on high, she 
called out in a loud, threatening voice into the 
surrounding darkness: I shall complete your 

work, Andrusha, and then — then I shall die with 
you !” 

Two days later, on the Saturday of that week, 
Sophie Perowsha w’as standing about noon on 
the Stable Bridge over the Catherine Canal. It 
was a bright, bracing winter-day ; the snow was 


244 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


crackling and grinding under the feet of the 
passers-by and the rays of tlie sun broke in a 
thousand biilliant hues in the long ice-crystals 
that were hanging from all the roofs. Along 
the canal there reigned unusual excitement. 
Mounted gendarmes were dashing to and fro; on 
the sidewalks and the wharves crowds of men 
were assembling. Curious people came to see 
what these men were doing there, and at last a 
report spread that the Czar was expected to 
come this way from the Engineers’ Palace. 

Sophie looked down the canal from the bridge, 
holding her long blue veil firmly on her bosom, 
and nodding now and then contentedly. It was 
long past one o’clock, and she had recognized 
the companions, who were moving about care- 
lessly along the canal. Suddenly a detachment 
of gendarmes, commanded by an officer, came on 
at full gallop and cleared the roadway. Sophie 
mounted upon the granite step of the side of the 
bridge, as if to see belter, and thus became con- 
spicuous herself. She bent forward and looked 
with fiery eyes and white face down the canal. 

A sleigh approached. “ That is not the Czar,” 
she said to herself. “That is the Head of the 
Police or the Governor of the city.” The first 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


245 


sleigh was followed some Cossacks of the 
Guard, and after them came a second sleigh at a 
furious rate, surrounded by Cossacks. “ That 
must be the Czar !” she thought, and at the same 
moment, as if to confirm her in her opinion, the 
crowd broke out into enthusiastic cheers. 

Now the sleigh with the Emperor came driv- 
ing along the canal, and Sophie, as if by accident, 
let go the ends of her veil. The wind seized it 
and merrily carried it up into the air. This was 
the signal for a deed that was to fill the world 
with horror ! For no sooner had the veil risen 
on high than a strongly-built blonde young man 
sprang forward into the very centre of the road- 
way, and hurled a bomb after the sleigh that 
had just flown by. He slipped in the act and 
fell. At the same time a tremendous explosion 
was heard close behind the Czar’s sleigh, the 
earth shook and trembled, and the window- 
panes in all the near houses broke to pieces. 
Cries of pain, of anguish and of fury followed 
immediately; the horses of the Cossacks reared 
and neighed, several Cossacks fell wounded out 
of their saddles, one horse fell backward and all 
the sleighs, the Czar’s also, stopped, while the 
grooms tried to calm the maddened horses. 


246 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


The Governor came from the first sleigh to 
the Emperor, calling out: “ I beseech Your 
Majesty to go on quickly to the Palace 

Alexanded call out an energetic “Halt! 1 
want to see what has happened,” he said, and 
sprang out of the sleigh. “Where are the 
wounded ?” 

He took a few steps and then stopped, look- 
ing sad and enraged, as he saw the discolored 
snow, black and red with blood, and the con- 
vulsed ground, and heard the groans of the 
wounded. 

In the meantime the gendarmes and police- 
men had rescued the fallen criminal from the 
enraged hands of the multitude and brought 
him up. It was a young laboring-man ; his 
hands had been tied behind his back, he had lost 
his hat and looked scornfully around him. 

The Emperor stepped up to him and examined 
him with a stern, crushing look, which he could 
not endure. He had to cast down his eyes. 
“And you, boy, meant to murder your Czar!” 
he said contemptuously, and turned round to 
go to his sleigh. At the same moment a slender, 
pale man with black hair and wild-looking eyes, 
broke through the crowd that surrounded the 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


247 


monarch. With one leap he stood in front of 
Alexander, raised both hands and threw some- 
thing at his feet. 

A terrific explosion drowned the anxious cries 
of the multitude; all the bystanders fell, the 
earth and the surrounding houses trembled, a 
dense smoke arose above the fatal spot, and 
slowly lifted itself up to the cold, blue sky. 

The terrible event, that no one could hinder, 
took only a few seconds. When the Emperor’s 
retinue, as far as they were not themselves 
wounded, could shake off the momentary paral- 
ysis, and rush up to render assistance, they 
found their beloved monarch still alive, but with 
the whole lower part of the body entirely de- 
stroyed. The murderer, a student, lay lifeless 
near his victim. The Czar demanded in a 
whisper, with expiring voice, to be carried to 
the palace. He was raised and tenderly carried 
to the Governor’s sleigh. Two hours later he 
had expired ! 

Sophie Perowsha, almost petrified, had re- 
mained at her post on the bridge until the 
Emperor, wounded unto death, had vanished 
out of her sight. Then, with long-drawn sighs, 
she had torn herself away, and slowly wandered 


248 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


to the meeting-place of the conspirators. She 
had done what she had sworn to do, but she felt 
no joy ; nor did she repent — she had now but 
one wish, to see the people rise and to be re- 
united to Shell. This wish must be fulfilled, she 
vowed. 

What was this? She remained standing where 
she was, as if she had taken root. Out of a nar- 
row side street came loud cries and hurried 
steps, which soon broke into boundless tumult. 
Was this the people, rising in its majesty? Alas ! 
Around the corner came running a single man, 
his clothes torn, his hair dishevelled, his knees 
tottering — he fell ! And now all who had been 
pursuing him, fell upon him with furious cries : 
“Down with the rascal! Kill the blackguard! 
He is a Nihilist ! He is one of the Czar’s assas- 
sins !” 

Sophie had recognized a companion and shud- 
dering turned' away to get into another side 
street. Was this the people that was to rise 
now ? Was this, that she had seen, a foretaste 
of the things to come? 

She hurried on and at last reached head- 
quarters. The house was quiet and silent. 
Where were the victors ? She hastened upstairs 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


M9 

— the door was open, the room was empty ; she 
took a chair and looked out. She had not long 
to wait. One by one they came rushing in : Mirow, 
Michaelow and other companions of the highest 
grades; they all looked heated, their clothes 
were torn and covered with mud. Michaelow 
was wounded in his face, his eyes looked pained 
and at the same time confused. 

Sophie jumped up to meet the brethren. 
“ How is it ?” she asked. ‘ What are the people 
doing ?” 

“ The people ?” Mirow replied ironically ; “ the 
people. Ha! ha! They beat their liberator 
and pity the Czar. See how they have treated 
us!" 

“ The people are completely changed !" Mic- 
haelow said with disgust. “ The men who but 
yesterday swore they would follow me to death, 
nearly killed me to-day when I brought them the 
news of the Czar’s death. But for my swift legs 
I should not be here !’’ 

“Then it was all done for nothing?’ asked 
Sophie, absent-minded. 

“ For the present, yes! There is no revolu- 
tion possible with such people. We must begin 
again at the ABC, teach them their rights and 


250 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


make propaganda. Nevertheless, the day will 
bear fruit, though it may ripen late!” 

Hurried steps came noisily up the stairs, and 
one of the companions entered, crying out: 
“ Make haste and get away from here ! One of 
our friends has been caught with a bomb in his 
hand. They seem to know this place, besides !” 

Instantly all made for the door. Sophie was 
leaving too, when Mirow called to her ; “ Stop! 
You must at once go abroad ! Everything has 
been prepared for you, a passport, money and the 
necessary luggage. The roads are still open!” 

Sophie looked at him in surprise. I go 
away? Never! My time is not come yet. I 
shall remain to complete what Fate bids me do. 
She drew herself up, and with firm steps left the 
room, followed by the amazed looks of her 
friends. 

Another man was hardly less disappointed by 
the results of the murder — Likin ! He was walk- 
ing up and down in his room ; nervous unrest 
had seized him and kept him moving, exhausted 
as he was. All had come about so very differ- 
ently from what he had expected ! He had 
thought he would at once seize the reins and 
rule the Empire with a firm hand, or at least. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


251 


placing himself at the head of a great mumber 
of loyally devoted friends, control through them 
public opinion, till he could assume the supreme 
power. He had gone so far, among the officers 
of the army even, as to lift the vail and to ascer- 
tain that there was, among them, a large party 
ready to aid in a thorough change of govern- 
ment. And now ? “ Instead of inaugurating, at 

the head of a triumphant nation, a new epoch, 
a new order of things, in which honor, wealth 
and power were sure to be his — all, all had been 
done for nothing ! The disappointment was 
crushing! The disillusion too cruel ! 

The leaders of “ Invisible Russia,” few in num- 
ber, when opposed to the millions of Russian 
subjects, but fancying themselves their match by 
their inexhaustible energy, had vanished. Some 
had been seized by the police, contrary to Likin’s 
special orders, others had fled, and many, among 
whom the most capable, were in hiding — and — 
refused to stir. He did not know what to do. 
Should he continue to be their Invisible Head, 
the real Chief of all Nihilists — or should he betray 
them and by handing them all over to the Gov- 
ernment, secure to himself high rank and per- 
sonal prestige ? 


252 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Likin, absorbed in these thoughts, had not 
heard the timid knocking at his door. Now it 
opened, and Marja Antonowna entered. She 
looked pale and disturbed, and immediately ran 
up to Likin. “ Do you know it, Grisha?’* she 
cried. “ They have arrested her — Sophie Perow- 
sha — my onl\" friend !” 

“ That Perowsha is your friend ?” he answered 
slowly. “ Sit down and tell me what you 
know !” 

She took a seat on the sofa and related with 
flying breath : “ Sophie had, since the attempt to 
murder the Czar, concealed herself with me and 
with other friends. All our efforts to persuade 
her to leave Russia for some time were in vain. 
Poor woman ! She loves Sliell with the whole 
strength of her ardent soul, and cannot bear the 
idea of leaving St. Petersburg till his fate is 
settled. To-day she heard that Shell had con- 
fessed, had revealed himself as the author of this 
last attack upon the Czar. He no doubt thought 
this heroic, but it was unwise, for he only 
doomed himself thus to death. Sophie seems to 
have understood this. She has not spoken a 
word since then. She took leave of me with a 
heartfelt kiss, and went into the street. 1 was 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


253 


terribly frightened and followed her. Then I 
saw that she did everything to attract the atten- 
tion of the police, and soon was arrested. She 
had evidently wanted to be arrested. Oh, the 
poor, poor woman — how she will suffer !” 

“Never mind!” he said calmy. “It was her 
will!” 

“ How can you say so, Grisha ! To be sure — 
you do not know her; have no idea how glori- 
ous a woman she is! You would be grieved 
unto death !” 

“ Where did you make her acquaintance ?” 
asked Likin, with a piercing look at Sophie. 

She was embarrassed and hesitated for a time. 
“Well!” she said at last. “I may as well tell 
you now !” 

And she told him candidly how she had come 
to know the Nihilists, and what she had done in 
co-operating with them. 

His face grew darker and darker, and when 
she closed with the confession that Sophie was 
her dearest friend on earth, as dear as a sister, 
he broke forth angrily : “ And this you tell me 
only to-day ! I did not think you would de- 
ceive — would cheat me thus!” 

Marja looked up distressed and troubled. 


254 : 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


“ You are unjust, Gregory,” she said eagerly. 
“ My oath bound me to keep silent. And then I 
had another reason, not to break with the Nihil- 
ists. I— I—” 

Here she paused in great embarrassment, 
while Likin harshly asked : “ What was this rea- 
son ?” 

“ You are intolerable,” she said with tears in 
her eyes. “ I wanted to be able to watch over 
your life. I wanted to be the first to hear of any 
measure they might take against you — ” She 
blushed crimson and hid her head in his bosom. 

Likin’s face cleared up again, and he said very 
kindly : “ How deeply I am indebted to you ; 
you not only watched over me in Moscow, but 
you remained with these outcasts for my sake ! 
How shall I ever repay you such a debt?” 

“ Remain my friend, my brother !” she cried 
with joy and happiness in her eyes. “ I wish 
for nothing else ; only promise me you will save 
Sophie. I know you are very powerful. If your 
influence is anywhere near the fear of the 
Nihilists and their hatred of you, the fate of my 
poor friend must lie in your hand !” 

Once more Likin’s face was overclouded, and 
he began restlessly to walk up and down again 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


S55 


in the room. “ I fear,” he said, after some hesi- 
tation, “ I shall not be able to do much in this 
case ; the new men at the head of affairs have 
adopted new principles; they will want to make 
an example !” 

“ Do not try to escape me, Grisha !” she 
cried, jumping up ; “ this is the first favor I have 
ever asked of you, and a man in your position 
can do anything !” 

“ You are mistaken, Marja! At this moment 
1 do not know myself what I can do or cannot 
do. But I will see !” 

“ No, Likin !” said Marja, placing herself 
directly before him, “you must swear, you 
must give me your word of honor, that you 
will do all that possibly can be done in order to 
fulfill my request !” 

She was evidently more bent upon securing 
his word than he had so far imagined ; therefore 
he said at once: “ Well, then, I do give you 
my word. I will do all that can be done, and I 
hope for the best.” 

Marja was delighted. “ I thank you, Grisha !” 
she said, “ with my whole heart and soul !” 
And before he could prevent it, the passionate 
woman had wound her arms around his neck 


256 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


and pressed a heartfelt kiss upon his lips. Then 
she drew back, confused and startled by her 
own impulsive action, and looked up at him as if 
seeking help. Thus the light fell upon the little 
chain and ring, that hung from it, and she asked 
at once : “ What is that ? An amulet ?’* 

“ As you take it,” he replied smiling. ** Do 
you remember Tatjana, the old grumbling 
woman, who lived near the Bashkeer frontier, 
close by the Steppes, and visited us now and 
then in summer on the Volga ?” 

“ Oh, yes!” Marja replied eagerly. “ I remem- 
ber her very distinctly ! That old lady in the 
costume of a hundred years ago, who had such 
sharp eyes and always great mysteries. Oh, I 
remember her very well !” 

“Well now, old Tatjana, who was — I do not 
know how — connected with our family, was 
strangely fond of me. Harsh and repellent as 
she was with other men, she overwhelmed me 
with kindness as I grew up. She maintained 
that I bore a striking likeness to the Hetman of 
Cossacks, the rebel Pugatsheff, whom she 
believed to have been Czar Peter III., in spite of 
all the evidence to the contrary. During her 
last visit to Muralino, she sent for me, and gave 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


257 


me this ring, with the injunction to wear it 
always on my neck. As long as I obeyed her, 
she said, “ I would be successful in life, for the 
ring had been Pugatshefif’s, and was presented 
to her mother by the hero himself.” 

Marja had listened attentively; now she drew 
nearer and examined the ring very carefully, 
thus she saw there was an inscription, and asked : 
“ What is written there?” 

“ A Latin line, which says : ‘ All or nothing!' 
It is very probable that Pugatsheff had such a 
motto !” 

“ Of course it means, the highest and best,” 
Marja repeated. “That would suit Shell, too! 
Have you worn the ring ever since?” 

Ivan’s entrance prevented her receiving an 
answer. The servant, after greeting Marja, as 
■ an old acquaintance, with a friendly nod, 
announced a messenger from the Minister of the 
Interior. Marja immediately took leave, being 
shown out by Ivan. 

An hour latter Likin was standing before his 
Minister. “Your former Chief, General Dren- 
telen, has very specially recommended you to 
me,” said the Excellency, “and I also have had 
l epeatedly occasion to test your trustworthiness. 


258 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


I thought of you, therefore, when His Majesty 
to-day charged me with a most important, but 
also very delicate duty. You know, of course, 
that the investigation of the last murderous plot 
has led to the arrest of several officers, who are 
strongly compromised. Now, they have all 
deposed to certain most remarkable facts, show- 
ing into what high circles the poison of revolt, 
and a frivolous playing with revolutionary ideas 
have already found their way. Among others, 
you also have been accused !” 

The Minister cast a look at Likin, quick as 
lightning. 

Gregory, however, did not lose his presence 
of mind. He calmly bore the look of his superior ; 
then he smiled courteously, and said : “ Too much 
honor ! I am sure I need not explain to Your 
Excellency, why 1 thought it well to appear in 
certain circles of malcontents; I wished to sup- 
plement certain discoveries, which I had already 
communicated to the police.” 

“Si I thought !” said Count Loris-Melikow, 
and a contemptuous smile curled his lips. “ You 
shall now have an opportunity to apply the 
knowledge thus obtained. The Czar has ordered 
that an extraordinary Court of the Senate shall 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


259 


try the criminals, and I expect you to report to 
this Court whatever you may know of this revo- 
lutionary movement. Moreover, His Majesty 
lias recently received, in an utterly inexplicable 
manner, a proclamation issued by the party of 
the “ Will of the People,” in which he is left the 
choice between an inevitable revolution, and 
submission to the will of the people. The paper 
threatens His Majesty with the fate of the 
deceased Emperor, if he should ignore this 
proclamation. I expect that you will hereafter 
know how to prevent such papers from reaching 
the Emperor!” 

The new Minister had spoken firmly, almost 
threateningly, and Likin felt desperately embar 
rassed. Did they know more of him than they 
wished to say ? How came this man to ex- 
pect” from him what others had not been able 
to do ? He bowed courteously and replied 
with a firm voice : “ WhaJ: can be done, shall be 

done, to inflict a blow upon these mysterious 
powers, from which they will not easily recover!” 

“ 1 expected such an answer from you. Major !” 
said the Minister and turned to his papers. 

Likin hurried home ; he gathered a number of 
papers and drove straight to the presiding officer 


260 


ALT. OR NOTHING. 


of the new Court. “ The gentleman will open 
his eyes wide, when he hears what 1 have to say,” 
he thought. “Only one I will spare — Mirow, my 
brother-in-blood : he shall not say that I have 
betrayed him ! I will give him a hint to-day ; if 
he is wise and gets away, I shall be glad. They 
say life in Geneva is not so bad !” 

A few weeks later the large portals of the 
State Prison in St. Petersburg were opened ; it 
was a misty, murky morning. A picket of Cos- 
sacks rode slowly at the head ; then followed 
two carts painted black, in which criminals in 
their long yellowish-gray prison-frocks were 
sitting. They were fastened to black beams, 
their faces turned back, and black-boards hung 
on their breast, on which was written in enor- 
mous letters: “ Guilty of High Treason.” 

In the first cart sat three well-known Nihilists; 
on the second. Shell and Sophie were tied to each 
other. Both looked cheerful and happy, and 
gazed around carelessly and even curiously. 
Hesse Helf had been pardoned by the Emperor 
at the last moment to lifelong imprisonment! 

An hour later, precisely at ten o’clock, Sophie 
Perowsha and Shell were hanged. Her last 
words were: “ My dream — my dream 1” 



CHAPTER XV. 

Summer had come, and in the minds of men, 
as in tlie Empire, tlie storms of spring had at 
last subsided ; field and forest were at rest and 
the Czar, even on his lofty throne, felt new hopes 
filling his heart. For with the snow and the ice, 
which the warm rays of the sun had melted and 
caused to vanish from the sight of man, the grief 
also and the discontent, the anxiety and the dis- 
tress had slowly faded away from memory, 
and the whole realm seemed once more to dwell 
in peace. Not that all men were happy and all 
minds content. Far from it; but the discontent 
had been so energetically crushed, that it dared 
no longer show itself in the light of day; most 
men, those who approved of the new regime, 

[261] 


262 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


and those who were never satisfied, waited in 
suspense so see what the new Czar would do. 

On the afternoon of a splendid day in Iday, 
Alexander Michaelow was standing at the open 
window of his modest chamber, and looked with 
clouded brow over the ocean of roofs that 
spread almost boundless before his eyes. He 
held a letter in his hand, the contents of which 
had disturbed him painfully. “ Leaf after leaf 
is falling!” he said, mournfully, “ how long will 
it be and I shall be left the only one of the old 
champions for the Cause of the People! I should 
not have expected this, I am sure, from Mirow !” 
He once more read the letter ; it contained the 
farewell of his friend, who was on his way to 
Geneva, being justified, as he thought, by His 
advice, Avho had urged him to flee instantly. He 
added, however, that though far in person, all 
his mind’s powers were still to be employed in 
furthering the Good Cause at home. 

Alexander left the window; he took his hat, 
went down, and after some hesitation, decided 
to go and see an old companion, Shewski. He 
found him at home, in council with a number of 
Nihilists of both sexes. He was not very cordi- 
ally welcomed, but paid no attention to this, 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


263 


merely informing the meeting of Mirow’s 
departure. After having settled in a whisper 
with Shewski who was to fill Mirow’s place in 
the Executive Committee, he asked what was 
the object of their discussion ? 

“We must strike a new blow against the Gov- 
ernment !” said one of the leading spirits. “ Blood 
must flow, for if anyone who had hopes from the 
new Czar, still continued to hope, he was a fool. 
Where is the Constitution that he promised ? 
Where are the liberal men, who a few weeks 
ago were still at the helm ? Count Loris is gone, 
and in his place Ignatiew has become Minister 
Omnipotent! Almost all the higher places have 
been filled with new men, and men invariably 
pledged to extreme reaction !” 

Michaelow looked dismal. “You state what 
is true, my friend,” he said, firmly, “and I cannot 
contradict you. Nevertheless, I would urge you 
to abstain from all murderous plots, not from 
weakness or cowardice — no one will suspect me 
of either — but as a matter of prudence. We 
have accomplished this : they fear us, they 
tremble before us, and that is enough for the 
present! What more did we hope to obtain than 
that? But I warn you against precipitous action. 


264 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Why should we shed more innocent blood? We 
ought to have learned from our experience so far 
this one lesson: A new murder will not be 
required till we hold a revolution, an uprising of 
the people, safely in our hand — we must leave 
nothing to Chance, but be perfectly sure that at 
a given signal the people, the whole people, will 
rise like one man. This is my view and the right 
view, for the days in March have taught me 
more than you !” 

On all sides signs of discontent broke out. 

Shewski laughed hoarsely, and his small, deep- 
sunk eyes shone wickedly. “As long as Man 
has lived on earth, anxious precaution has ever 
pretended to be wisdom ! Your ears may be 
long, Sasha, very long, but I am sure they do not 
hear the grass grow. A few bombs bursting in 
the midst of the reactionary party, will have a bet- 
ter effect than your propaganda of many ^^ears !” 

Michaelow started up, but he checked himself. 
“ Big words have never yet done more than to 
make him ridiculous who scattered them about,” 
he replied, coldly. “ Let the reaction go on in its 
madness; it does more for us than a thousand 
Shells!” 

His adversary jumped up furiously, and cried: 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


265 


“ Friends, male and female : 1 think we have 
talked long enough. I propose, in the first place, 
that we reply to the manifest of the Czar by a 
proclamation, in which we declare the continua- 
tion of war, and announce to the present Czar 
the fate of his father. All who agree with me 
will raise their hand !” 

All did so, except Michaelow, who remained 
immovable, looking sternly before him. 

“And now,” continued the same speaker, “for 
the ways and means to follow up the proclama- 
tion with noble deeds. First of all, we need 
money — much money ! Where shall we find it?” 

Another enthusiast exclaimed instantly: 
“ Nothing simpler than that ! I propose we 
storm the Imperial Bank and rob the safes !” 

A general laugh followed. 

“ An admirable suggestion !” cried a bearded, 
wild looking man ; “ the millions that are lying 
idle in the Imperial Bank are national property 
— they belong to us !” 

“ Bravo, bravissimo !” cried one of the ladies 
present. “ I have another proposal : We write 
threatening letters to all the fattest money-bags 
in the country, and mention dynamite, if they 
should refuse to share their wealth with us!” 


266 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


“ Excellent !” “ Admirable !” came from all 

sides. 

Michaelow could no longer control himself. 
Jumping up, pale and with fiery eyes, he said 
earnestly: “ Have you lost your senses? How 
can you listen to such nonsense ?’ Are we a 
gang of thieves and robbers? Are we banditti? 
You ought to be ashamed to desecrate our holy 
cause by such nonsense !” 

A wild tumult broke out. “ Listen to the 
Moralist cried a thin, sharp voice ironically. 
“ Everything belongs to the people, and we only 
demand what is our own ! Away with all 
delicacy and ceremon}^ What do we care for 
morality? We need money to carry on the 
war. Let us mark down those who have it, and 
who refuse to pay the tribute due to us!” 

The immense applause that greeted these 
words, taught Michaelow that his own position 
had become untenable. He alone could not 
contend with such a gang. Deep shame entered 
his soul ; unspeakable disgust filled his heart. 
He had to cling to the table to prevent fainting 
and sinking down. Then he drew himself up to 
his full height and said : Farewell, then ! 

Woe is the people that is led by unclean hands 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


267 


aod impure souls ! You assume a responsibility, 
which I am unable to share with you ! See to 
it, that the curse of this people may not con- 
demn you ! My part is played out among 
you !” 

He left the room and for hours wandered 
aimlessly about. Unconsciously he had reached 
the house in which Marja lived ; he was hesita- 
ting, whether he should enter, when she herself 
relieved him of his doubts. The house-door 
opened and Marja appeared, ready to take her 
evening-walk. Michaelow crossed the street 
and approached her; she at once recognized 
him and joyfully offered him her hand. “ We 
have not met, Sasha, for a long time !” she said 
mournfully. “ I thought you had left St. Peters- 
burg. How are you?” 

Michaelow had seized her right hand and shook 
it heartily. Then looking into her face, he 
noticed with great sorrow, that she was wan and 
thin. “ How I am,” he answered most warmly, 
“ is no matter, but you — life seems to have been 
harder to bear for you than was well? Your 
looks do not speak of happy days !” 

She turned her head a little aside, as if to 
avoid his inquisitive looks, and quickly replied ; 


268 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


“ You are mistaken, Sasha, it is nothing! I have 
sorrowed greatly for Shell’s fate and for Sophie. 
And then — I have these last months kept very 
close to my room and that may have made me 
look badly. Come, let us take a walk!” 

She started and Michaelow; joined her. 
“Where are you going?” he asked. 

“ I have no special aim — I only wanted to get 
a little fresh air, to take a walk on the banks of 
the Neva. Was it accident that brought you to 
this neighborhood or did you come to see me?” 

“ Fate led me, and longing. I have a favor to 
ask you, Marja. Let us take a boat and row 
down the Neva ! The evening is so very fine!” 

She nodded, and they walked down to the 
river. Here Michaelow hired a boat, threw down 
a few roubles for the hours he wished to keep it, 
and then, with experienced hand, pushed the lit- 
tle boat into the broad river. Then he set to 
rowing and slowly approached the islands. 

The day was drawing to an end ; the reflex of 
the evening sun was playing on the clear waters 
and broke into millions of brilliant pearls as the 
oars rose out of the water ; the stream rushed 
down, murmuring its never-varying melodies, 
and from the distance came the roar of city life. 


AtL OR NOTHING. 


269 


They rowed down and down the huge Neva, 
pass the fortresses of St. Peter and St. Paul, 
farther and farther out to sea. Both were silent, 
abandoning themselves to the magic charm of 
their enchanting surroundings. 

At last Marja broke the silence. “You still 
owe me the answer to my question, how you are, 
and how matters stand with you?” 

“ I did it purposely, for I have nothing good 
to tell you in reply. Our companions are going 
to take steps which I cannot approve. You see 
before you a man whose hopes for life are 
cruelly destroyed — all but one. Are you willing 
to listen, if I tell you the one hope which 1 still 
cherish, Marja Antonowna?” 

He had spoken sadly, with a tremor in his 
voice. Now he took in the oars and anxiously 
looked at Marja. The boat was slowly drifting 
down the river. She cast down her eyes, she 
knew what was coming, and she shrank from it, 
because she knew she would have to destroy her 
friend’s last hope. But it had to be, and the 
sooner it was done the better. “ Speak, Alexan- 
der Michaelow !” she sajd. 

“ It is but a short question I have to ask, 
Marja,” he whispered, and his low voice was 


270 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Strangely tremulous. “ Do you like me well 
enough to follow me to a quiet corner of the 
land, and there to share my modest life with its 
work and its cares, but in love and in happi- 
ness 

He paused and, with eager, wide-open eyes, 
gazed at her in almost feverish excitement. 

She made no reply and her head sank lower 
and lower down upon her bosom. 

“You see, Marja, ” he went on, after a short 
pause, “ I have loved you from the first time I 
saw you and heard of the great, heartrending 
grief that had fallen to your lot. I knew then 
that a heart like yours would take a long time 
to let such a wound heal up again, and I should 
have kept silence even now, if a prompt decision 
were not necessary now. I know, Marja, you 
will answer me candidly, as I have asked you 
candidly. Have you forgotten the past — have 
you buried it? Have you become fond enough 
of me to be able to unite your life and my life? 
I hang on your lips, I thirst for truth ; speak 
frankly, and 1 swear to you 1 shall submit to 
your decision, whatever it may be. ” 

Marja had slowly recovered her self-control 
and now, calmly looking up to him, she said ; 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


271 


“ You shall hear the truth, Sasha, the whole truth, 
and, pray, be not angry if 1 feel bound to destroy 
the hope you have cherished. I cannot follow 
you, Sasha, dear as you are to me. My heart 
could love but once; it is utterly dead, and there 
is nothing left, not one beat of the pulse, for 
a new love. You are nearest and dearest to me 
among all men, for I honor and esteem you, but 
your wife — no, your wife I can never be!” 

Michaelow hid his face in both hands. At 
last he uttered a deep sigh — or was it a groan ? 
and let both hands sink. “ Well, another dream 
is gone.” Then he bent forward and offered 
Marja his hand, which she seized and heartily 
pressed. “ Pardon my weakness” he said calm- 
ly, “ 1 shall get over it, only you must give me 
time I I thank you for you candor!” 

In the meantime a great change had taken 
place. They had both entirely forgotten the 
boat and the consequence was that now it had 
drifted down on the current, while the slight 
evening breeze was gently pushing it towards 
the shore, below the Galleys’ Wharf. The 
granite-wharves did not extend so far out, and 
the water was shallow here, with a number of 
weeds- and creeping plants on the river’s edge. 


272 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Michaelow, when at last he saw the situation, 
tried to push off the boat, but it was too late and 
the next moment it stuck fast in the sand. 
“ It seems to be my fate to strand everywhere !*' 
Michaelow said, with a melancholy smile, and 
tried with his oar to start the boat into deeper 
water. In his efforts the oar encountered a hard 
substance and when he looked more carefully 
at the object, which was all the time bobbing up 
and down, he saw that it was aglass bottle, care- 
fully corked. With some trouble he drew it up 
out of the water and showed it to Marja. 

“ What is it ?” she asked. 

Evidently a bottle with some paper in it,” 
was the reply. Michaelow carefully dried and 
wiped the bottle and found that the old cork had 
been reinforced with minute splinters of wood. 
“ No doubt,” he said, some one has entrusted 
this bottle with a message and sent it adrift !” 

“ Let us see what it contains !” said Marja 
eagerly. She was glad that this incident helped 
both to get over the painful impression produced 
by their previous conversation. “ First, we must 
try to get afloat again,” said Michaelow. 
“ Please hold it meanwhile.” 

By dint of persevering, powerful exertions, he 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


273 


succeeded at last in pushing the boat back again 
into the current, and began now to row some- 
what anxiously back towards the city. 

In the meantime Marja was examining the 
bottle and tried to open it ; but in vain. “ If such 
a bottle is fished up out at sea,” she said, “ I un- 
derstand ; but how it can have gotten into the 
Neva is beyond me. There must be some secret 
in this bottle !” 

“ It is very strange indeed,”- answered her 
friend, “ but it is too dark now to investigate the 
matter. We must get on shore; it is too cool 
on the water, besides !” 

He wielded the oars with such strength that 
the little boat flew along like an arrow. He 
passed under the wide arches of one bridge after 
another, and at last reached the landing-place, 
where the owner of the boat was waiting for 
them. They got out and wandered through the 
brilliantly illuminated streets. 

“What do you think,” said Marja, “shall we 
go to some restaurant and spend an hour there? 
I have my house-key and nobody waits for me !” 

She felt anxious to remain near Michaelow ; 
his ways frightened her, although he was her 
master. 


274 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


It was a cheerful, large room with few guests. 
The two travelers chose a quiet corner and 
ordered a modest supper. And while the waiter 
was setting the table, Michaelow tried to open 
the bottle with his penknife. The cork had, 
however, been driven in too tightly, and it 
occurred to him also, that he would not probably 
be able to draw the paper through the narrow 
neck. He, therefore, promptly resolved, broke 
the neck by a powerful blow ; part of the bulk 
of the bottle broke with it into splinters. Then 
he cautiously drew forth a paper covered with 
red writing ; and a small parcel wrapped up in 
printed paper. 

When Michaelow unfolded the paper and in 
amazement gazed at the handwriting, his fea- 
tures suddenly changed ; his cheeks began to 
burn, his eyes stared in wild excitement at the 
mysterious paper ; and when he turned it over 
and saw the signature, he cried out: “ It is he! 
It is by him ! What a precious treasure-trove 1” 

Marja was almost painfully excited by seeing 
Michaelow ’s sudden start. Whom do you 
mean ?” she asked. 

“ This paper,” replied her companion, almost 
solemnly, “ is Andrei Shell’s last message; it is 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


275 


dated at the Casemates of the St. Peter and St. 
Paul fortress, and contains his farewell to the 
Russian people. Fate has been gracious to us 
to let us, of all persons, find this important 
document !” 

“What? A sign of life from Shell? The 
greeting of a dead man? What a miracle!” 
exclaimed Marja, and she shuddered. . She got 
the better, however, of the horror that had 
seized her for a moment and, moving a chair 
close to her friend, she looked into the paper 
and asked : ‘‘ What does he say.” 

Michaelow began to read in an undertone, 
and with tears in his voice : 

“ I write this on the first blank page of the 
Bible, which the pope has brought me for my 
consolation in my last hours. The wooden pen 
which I have painfully contrived, 1 dip into the 
blood, that comes flowing from my heart ; it is 
to carry my last greetings to the people, for 
which it has ever beaten in ardent love, and I 
hope that the bottle in which I shall entrust my 
farewell-words to the ever-flowing Neva, will 
be carried to some coast, where it may fall into 
the hands of an honest Russian.” 

In eloquent terms the dauntless leader of the 


276 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


people then went on, conjuring his friends and 
companions to continue the battle and promis- 
ing them a certain victory if they would but 
remain faithful to their oath : ‘‘All and every- 
thing by the people — all and everything for the 
people !” Then he went on, to the amazement 
of Marja : 

“ Beware of treason ! Brethren ! Friends 
and Companions ! Painful as it is, I must 
denounce the Head, the mysterious Chief, to 
whom we, leaders of the party, had sworn 
blind obedience, whose blood has mingled with 
Mirow’s blood, and whose oath, to serve us faith- 
fully, has been brought to us as sacred and invio- 
lable. 

“ I accuse this man of treason ! We, who will 
be in the hands of the executioner to-morrow 
morning, we have been sent to this disgraceful 
death by the meanest of our enemies — by Major 
Likin ! He ap'peared during a secret session of 
the Court of Inquiry, and made, before our 
faces, statements which no one could know out- 
side of our Executive Committee. He has 
destroyed us, and cynically declared that he 
had the threads in his hands, which would 
destroy our party and our Cause. 

“ No one can do that, for such ideas as agitate 
a nation, do not die with single individuals ; but 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


277 


they may be injured and long delayed by 
treachery. I repeat: There was ever treason 
in Major Likin’s words! He must be connected 
with the head of the Executive Committee. 
Therefore 1 call upon you, friends and compan- 
ions, to investigate this matter, to judge and 
to carry out judgment — justly, but with inexor- 
able justice !” 

“ [ add to these statements a ring which I 
once tore from our Chief’s neck in a nightly com- 
bat. This ring will lead you to a discovery of 
the man who has played a contemptible game 
with us and betrayed us into the hands of this 
rascal Likin!” 

The two friends were deeply moved by 
the words of their departed companion — they 
could not find utterance for a single word ! They 
sat pale and silent. Michaelow felt a tear roll 
down a cheek ; he said : ” He was the best and 
truest of us all !” He almost sobbed and mechan- 
ically raised his tea-glass. He felt as if the 
Holy Cause had perished with him and he had 
no hope left in his almost broken heart. 

Mai ja felt very differently. She was especi- 
ally shocked by the reference to Likin. Was 
this the way he had kept the word of honor 
which he had given her? Was this the way he 


278 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


had forgotten her ? What Shell said about him 
could not be doubted. It bore the stamp of 
truth on its face. And then that story of the 
ring! She recollected at once the present of old 
Tatjana, and the connection with Shell’s ring 
suddenly cleared up the mystery. She asked, 
therefore, anxiously : “ Where is that ring?” 

Michaelow, who was brooding over the terri- 
ble news that had reached them in this strange, 
mysterious manner, started up and answered, as 
if in mental abstraction : “The ring? Ah yes! 
The ring. I suppose it is in that little parcel.” 

He pushed the parcel to Marja. She seized it 
and tried to unfold it — her fingers were trem- 
bling, she could not get it open for some time. At 
last the ring appeared ; it was quite plain, only on 
the inside it bore the words : Aut Ccesar aut nihil, 
and a small fragment of a tiny chain hung on 
one side. When Marja saw the ring, it escaped 
her hand and fell ringing upon the table; she 
herself sank, half fainting, back in her chair. 

“What is it, Marja?” Michaelow inquired, 
frightened, and tried to help her up again. She 
quietly submitted to his putting his arm gently 
around her waist and drawing her to himself, 
her face was drawn, her eyes stared, as if she 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


279 


beheld something fearful, monstrous, that she 
could not comprehend and not bear. 

“ Come to yourself, Marja, I beseech you,” he 
continued anxiously. “ What is there about that 
ring ?” 

She shuddered, and after a long pause, she 
said in a strange, painful tone : “ I saw the same 
thing exactly hanging by a little chain like this, 
on Grisha’s neck ! Likin and he are one and the 
same person !” 

Michaelow at hrst shook his head, incredulous, 
and cried : “ Impossible ! That cannot be so ! 
That would be too monstrous !” Then, however, 
like a flash of lightning all his experience of 
cases, when Likin and the Head of the Executive 
Committee had been playing their parts, ap- 
peared before his mind’s eye, and he exclaimed 
in a terrible voice : “ And yet ! Oh ! the rascal- 
ity, that has not its equal in the world’s his- 
tory !” 

He was a changed man. All weakness and 
melancholy had vanished from his face ; a terri- 
ble wrath had made the veins on his brow swell 
fearfully, the pupils of his eyes were enlarged, 
and his hands were spasmodically closed. Sud- 
denly he jumped up, put the letter and the ring 


280 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


in his pocket, and said roughly : “ Come, let us 
be gone ! The time for talking is gone !” 

Marja followed, unconscious of what she was 
doing, the discovery of Dikin’s double plaj^ 
had completely overcome her. She rose, but 
her feet trembled so that she had to hold on to 
the back of her chair. While Michaelow was 
paying for the supper which they had scarcely 
touched, she was trying to summon strength so 
as to follow her friend. 

In the street Michaelow looked round at her, 
and seeing her totter helplessly, he offered her 
his arm ; it looked as if he had become more 
quiet. “ Hold on to me, Marja Antonowna,” he 
said. “ I will see you home !” 

Silently they went thus through the mild 
summer-night. When they found themselves 
standing before the house of Likin’s old aunt, 
Michaelow suddenly seized Marja by both 
shoulders, and looking her straight in the face, 
he said : “Marja, when I just now, in the boat, 
asked you to be my wife, I thought you had long 
since broken off all intercourse with Liken, in 
the world and in your heart. Now I know that 
1 was mistaken. But I must hear it once more 
from your own lips. Do you still love him ?” 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


281 


Marja cast down her anxious eyes, and a 
tremor seized her whole frame. “Until to-day 
1 never could forget that I had once hung on his 
heart, loving and beloved !” 

Michaelow let go her shoulders and turned 
aside. “ I thank you for your honesty !’ he said, 
and his voice had lost its ringing sound. “ Hear 
now my last request ! Here, take Andrei’s letter 
and the ring, and swear that you will hand both 
to the Executive Committee, as soon as you can 
find them. You know to whom to address your- 
self. This is the last favor I shall ask of you. 
Promise me, by your honor, by your devotion to 
our Cause, by all that you hold sacred on earth 
to fulfill my wish?” He drew the paper and the 
ring from his pocket and gave them to Marja. 
“ Do you promise?” 

“I will do it!” replied Marja, anxious and 
almost in consternation. “ But why this solemn 
tone ? What are you going to do ?” 

Nothing, Marja, nothing ! Farewell and think 
of me now and then! We shall never meet 
again !” 

She tottered towards him, trying to seize his 
arm, but he freed himself and fled. After taking 
a few steps he turned back once more, stretching 


282 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


out his arms toward her. “ Farewell !” she heard 
in tender, half-smothered accents, and then he 
vanished into the darkness. 

Michaelow had not come to the next cross- 
street, when his head began to turn. The excite- 
ment of the last hours had been too much, even 
for his powerful nature. He had to lean against 
the wall of the nearest house, and thus, his hands 
covering his face, he remained till he could 
recover composure enough to continue his way. 
He had, in his innermost heart, determined to do 
what his friend’s memory and the honor and 
usefulness of his party demanded. ‘‘You shall 
not have counted upon me in vain, Andrei!” he 
said, raising his right hand to heaven, as in threat, 
and then he added : “ The Cause of the People’s 
Will, your sad end, most faithful of all brethren, 
and my own heart, cry for vengeance — vengeance 
on him who has openly disgraced them ! I will 
do what Fate bids me do !” 

He drew himself up, ^nd walked firm and 
resolved down the street to the Nevski Prospect. 
When he reached the bridge, he paused a 
moment and felt in his pocket. Yes! the 
revolver was there! A few minutes later he 
was at the Ministry of the Interior, where some 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


283 


of the windows still showed lights. I must 
find out where he is hidden,” he murmured. 
“ Perhaps the janitor will tell me.” He was 
about to enter, when two officers came out, 
engaged in loud conversation. 

“ That was a long session to-night !” said a 
short, stout man with English whiskers. “ Where 
will you get your supper, Gregory Petrowitch ?” 

“ I think of going to Livadia,” Likin replied. 
“ The hard work of these last days has made me 
quite nervous. I need some distraction. Will 
you join me. Major?” 

“ If you permit me, Gregory Petrowitch, I 
will. A little music, a supper in the open air, 
and a bottle of champagne — I never refuse 
that !” He smacked his tongue in anticipation. 

The two officers were going down the road- 
way to the Nevski Prospect, and the .sentinel 
before the Ministry presented arms. Michaelow 
profited by this moment : he had no sooner recog- 
nized Likin than he drew his revolver and 
cocked it. Now he leaped suddenly towards 
Likin, raised his arm and fired, without taking 
aim, it is true, but so close to him, that he was 
sure he could not fail. The sound passed away, 
but Likin stood unharmed and drew his sword. 


284 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Michaelow never thought of fleeing. Quick 
as lightning he cocked his revolver and raised 
the arm for a second discharge. This time he 
took aim, carefully, with compressed lips. He 
saw Likin with drawn sword rush upon him and 
wondered at his courage. Now he was going 
to fire, when a shot fell from the side ; his arm 
sank shattered down and the revolver fell to the 
ground, firing its loads. At the same moment 
Michaelow saw something bright flash before 
his eyes and felt a stinging pain in his head ; he 
lost his consciousness and fell to the ground. 

Likin, who had given his adversary a sabre-cut 
over the head, bent down to look at him. At 
the same time the sentinel came running up, his 
smoking gun in hand. Likin rose. “ It is 
Sasha !” he murmured. “ Poor fellow ! But 
he willed it so !” 

Now Likin’s companion also approached, who 
had stood by, petrified, unable to stir. 

“ Are you wounded. Colonel ?” asked the Major, 
with a voice trembling with terror and excite- 
ment. 

“ No,” replied Likin, calmly. “ The steel-shirt 
which Loris-Melikow gave me once, has stood 
the test. The ball hit me just above the heart, 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


285 


but was turned aside. I advise you, Major, to 
get such a safety-corset. You see, these gentle- 
men aim well !” 

Do you know the murderer?” 

“It is Alexander Michaelow, whom we have 
long tried to catch !” Then he walked up to the 
sentinel, who stood, straight like. a statue, holding 
the gun that had sent its load into Michaelow’s 
arm and shattered it to pieces. He was close 
by the wounded man, who gave no sign of life. 
“ What is your name?” he asked the soldier. 

“ Ivan Sergewitch ! Your Excellency!” 

“ That was admirably done, my boy, especially 
in this darkness ! I shall not forget you. Report 
to me to-morrow !” He patted the man on the 
shoulder. “ Now go in and call the janitor. 
Carry the wounded man in ; have him attended 
to, and then send him to the guard-house. He 
must be treated well — do you hear, very well, 
very carefully ! He is a very important man for 
us !” 

The soldier murmured his “Yes, sir!” and 
went off. 

Likin turned to his companion and said, coolly : 
“ Come, Major, I am hungry. The champagne 
will do us good after this little excitement.” 


286 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


While the servants, guided by the sentinel, 
came rushing out of the palace and carried the 
criminal off, who was roused from his stupor, 
and now softly groaned, the two officers walked, 
laughing and chatting, towards the nearest cab- 
stand. 


CHAPTER XVI. 

In the sumptuous palace of Prince Soltikoff 
we find the Princess Natalie once more, and with 
her Lieutenant Colonel Gregory Petrowitch 
Likin. The years that have passed — for this 
was the year 1883 — had left no trace on their 
heads, and done no harm to their features. The 
gray-haired princess looked as fresh and hearty 
as ever — it even looked as if an air of inner con- 
tentment on her face made her appear younger. 
The officer, also, looked unchanged, and only a 
very acute observer could have noticed certain 
signs of weariness. There were, however, a few 
most delicate lines between the outer corners of 
the eyes and the temples, a peculiar nervousness 
in his restless glances, and amid the abundance 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


287 


of black hair now and then a silver thread or a 
clearing, as facetious rivals called it. Otherwise 
Likin was the same man as of old : he cast sharp 
and bold glances around, the new uniform with 
the full trousers stuck into the high boots, and 
the tight belt, became him remarkably well. He 
had laid the gray fur-cap with the boldly rising 
silver-plumes on the table, and his powerful 
frame showed still the same elasticity, as he bent 
once more over the old lady’s hand, raised it to 
his lips and said, with a light smile: “ You are 
right, Princess, it is a long, a very long time, 
since we met last, and I am but too happy to find 
you as gracious as ever to me !” 

The princess nodded kindly and withdrew her 
hand slowly. “ Yes,” she said, seriously and 
thoughtfully, “ it is long since, and what changes 
have taken place since then ! We alone have 
remained the same — the times have changed 
marvellously. What a pity that my poor son- 
in-law could not have lived to see the new Era ! 
He would have been delighted to see the Gov- 
ernment return to solid, Old-Russian principles ! 
How great his pleasure would have been, to 
return with us to St. Petersburg ! Heaven 
willed it not ! His will be done !” 


288 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


She sighed and passed her hand over her eyes. 

The smile on Likin’s face disappeared, and he 
cast down his eyes. “ I was inexpressibly 
shocked, when I heard that the Prince had suc- 
cumbed to his acute rheumatism in Cannes, in 
spite of all medical efforts. 1 loved him as a 
father and hoped he would be a father to me !’' 

“ He was very fond of you, Gregory Petro- 
witch, and rejoiced greatly at hearing that the 
Emperor honors you with his confidence, and it 
is mainly, if not alone, due to you, if the Anarch- 
ists have become more and more quiet, and the 
leaders have almost all paid the penalty of 
death or exile to Siberia. That was an excellent 
idea of yours to separate the Secret Police en- 
tirely from the Ministry of the Interior, and still 
better was it, that you yourself were made the 
head of the new, independent department. When 
poor Michael felt his end approaching, and An- 
nushka surprised us all by confessing what 
tender ties bound her and yourself in secret, 
when she fell on her knees before her dying 
father, and besought him to bless the union of 
your hearts, he laid his trembling right hand up- 
on her head, and sent you his paternal blessing. 
We are glad, Gregory Petrowitch, to welcome 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


289 


you in our family, and to fulfill the prince’s last 
wish, that your betrothal to Annushka should be 
made public on this day." 

“You lift my soul high above all sorrow. 
Princess, and make it rejoice in spite of m}^ 
grief," Likin replied warmly, kissing her hand 
once more reverently. “ I shall try to prove my 
gratitude by making every effort of which man 
is capable, to render Anna Michaelowna’s life 
happy !” 

“ I do not doubt you will do that," exclaimed 
the old lady. “ 1 was quite amused and felt 
quite young again myself, when I saw how An- 
nushka was urging the maids to hurry the pack- 
ing of her many trunks, although that was some 
days yet before we shall leave Moscow ! The 
dear child was so impatient to see you again ! 
You little know, Gregory Petrowitch, how that 
child loves you, and I cannot help hoping when 
hearts are so eager to be united, happiness can- 
not be far off. A propos, have you seen An- 
nushka ?" 

“ Last night ! You will pardon me. Princess, 
if I went to her first. We had not looked into 
each other’s eyes for more than two years! I 
really do not know that my duty ever weighed 


290 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


more heavily upon me, than during this long, 
long time. If I had been my own master, noth- 
ing could have kept me from leaving Russia 
and joining you on the Riviera.’' 

“ It was better so,” answered the princess, 
smiling. “We also had our share of troubles 
and of great sorrow ; we have experienced, on a 
small scale, in miniature, the same difficulties 
through which the Empire had to pass on a 
large scale. Thanks be to the Almighty, that to 
those times of tumult and of horror, days of 
peace and quiet happiness have succeeded ! 
For, is it not so, Gregory Petrowitch, is not 
Nihilism dead and at an end ?” 

“ Dead ? As nearly dead as it can be ! For 
the Revolution has, no doubt, its adherents still; 
discontent will continue to undermine society, 
in the lowest classes, and I will not deny, that 
hereafter also isolated, bloody attempts may be 
made, as we have seen in the two murders of 
this year at Odessa and in St. Petersburg. But 
the energy which we have shown in all the 
persecutions that were ordered, has had its 
good effects. Their most capable men have 
been silenced, their regular organization is 
broken up, and their resources are utterly. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


291 


exhausted. I know of course, that their so-called 

I 

Executive Committee is still in existence, and 
that behind them men are standing, here and 
abroad, who desperately venture their lives. 
A propos, do you know that the assassin of 
General Streljuckow, who was hanged last 
winter in Odessa, was the same young man who, 
as the “ carpenter, Matzew,” came near blowing 
up the Winter Palace ?” 

“ No, that is news ! But then, I am glad of 
it, that the penalty for that crime also has now 
been fully paid. But I cannot tell you, Gregory 
Petrowitch, how greatly I find society changed 
since we left St. Petersburg ! Then, we were 
all of us living in fear for our lives; no one 
came to us who was not feared as a possible 
Nihilist, and we met no at all forbidding look- 
ing man, in whom we did not see the one or the 
other of the two, then most famous, great mur- 
derers. Everybody shunned public amuse- 
ments ; in fact, we did not trust our best friends, 
and never drove through our best streets with- 
out fearing a bomb might suddenly be thrown 
between our sleighs and ourselves. How much 
safer our lives have become ! We can now pre- 
pare a little family festivity without being con- 


292 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


tinously troubled by ominous forebodings, and 
without fearing that some terrible calamity 
might befall him or some one else among our 
friends or relatives. 

“You still wish, Princess,” Likin asked eagerly, 
“ to make my betrothal with Anna Michaelowna 
public to-night, your first reception evening?” 

“ Certainly ! I do not want you two passion- 
ate people to play hide and seek any longer in 
secret. One more request, dear Colonel! See 
to it, I pray, that Prince Peter appear here ; 1 
am not at all pleased with him !” 

A shadow of anxiety flew over Likin’s features. 

“You do him injustice. Princess!” he said 
eagerly. “ The Prince has made a man of him- 
self ; we are very warm friends. Did he not in 
January pass the examination and conquer the 
place at the top of the list ? Does not the 
baron in Courland, on whose estates he has been 
busy learning how to farm, always abound in 
his praise ? Has he not sent him back lately, 
saying that he could teach him nothing more, as 
he was a master in all that concerned farming?” 

The old lady continued to shake her head. 
“ That is all very well,” she said, “ and I am con- 
vinced that Prince Peter,, next spring, when he 


ALL OR' NOTHING. 


293 


takes possession of Dulino, will do everything 
as well as it can he done. But that is no place 
for a man who bears his name. I want him now, 
when the old nobility is once more assuming its 
proper place in the Empire, to stand where his 
fathers stood ; by the side of the Czar, among 
those who are nearest to the Emperor, and to 
assist him, in war with their sword, in peace 
with their wise counsel. What does he do ? He 
rarely shows himself at Court, and intentionally 
avoids meeting his family. He, who used to be 
the most devoted son, the most attentive grand- 
son, has, since his transfer to St. Petersburg, cut 
off all intercourse with his family, and is never 
seen at his paternal home. It was with the great- 
est difficulty only that we could persuade 
him to attend his father’s funeral, and, no 
sooner did the old gentleman rest in his grave, 
than Prince Peter was already on his way to St. 
Petersburg ! Thus we had actually never seen' 
him since that sad day, till we met at the station 
the other day, when we reached here ! That is 
very, very strange ; it is too sad !” 

Likin had listened to the old lady’s mournful 
complaints very courteously, as she walked up 
and down in the room, greatly excited. Now, 


294 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


with a smile on his lips, he answered : “ I think 
I can perhaps explain this remarkable conduct to 
some extent: my impressions are that Prince 
Peter’s peculiar relations to Princess Plena are 
the cause of his strange flight from home.” 

“ What ! Flenushka !” exclaimed the old 
princess, greatly amazed. “ Impossible ! And 
yet ! That little minx has also been of late 
rather quiet and reserved, and we did not know 
what to make of it — she who formerly vied with 
the sun in laughing ! And now she is serious, 
almost melanchol}^ often looking like a wither- 
ing little flower. The two young people have 
alwaysbeen very fond of each other — should that 
have become a serious attachment ? Yes, and 
now that you mention it, I can understand, also, 
why Flenushka would not come with us. Just 
think of it, she has gone, with Mademoiselle 
Desjardins, to Dulino — now, at this season ; it is 
quite incomprehensible !” 

“ I think I am sure that Prince Peter loves 
Flenushka,” answered Likin, “ but I presume 
there has arisen some little quarrel between 
them, and both are obstinate. If you would 
take hold of the matter, I am sure all will be 
right in a few hours.” 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


295 


“ You flatterer !” cried the princess, threaten- 
ing Likin with her finger, “ but 1 will see Peter 
and try to find out what is the matter. I should 
be much pleased if you were right. I was get- 
ting frightened about Prince Peter! he would 
not be the first nice young man whom the St. 
Petersburg University has ruined I” 

“ No danger, Princess ! Prince Peter is too 
pure and noble a character to be led astray by 
the absurd notions of young, unfledged men. 
Besides, he never cared for politics. Pll bring 
him here to-night ; perhaps you ’ll persuade him 
at once.” 

He bowed, kissed the old lady’s hand and 
left; but at the same moment the Princess Anna 
appeared in the door, ready to go out. She 
flew at once to him and he embraced her, kiss- 
ing her passionately. “ Where are you going 
my love ?” he asked. “I have been with your 
grandmother and was just about to call on you.” 

“ Come with me, Gregory ! I have some 
purchases to make! The carriage is waiting !” 

She drew herself gently from his arms and 
looked up at him with radiant eyes. Her face 
had turned a little paler, more spiritual, but the 
delicately carved lips were more energetic than 


296 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


ever, and her eyes actually shone through the 
thin little veil around her fur-cap ; they were 
full 'of pride and happiness ! Likin assented, 
and Anna preceded him down to the vestibule, 
where one of the many servants on duty threw 
his winter-cloak around the colonel’s broad 
shoulders. A few minutes later they were 
driving in an open landau, drawn by two fiery 
greys, their feet carefully protected by warm 
wraps, though the damp, cold November air 
towards the Nevski Prospect. 

Little did Likin at that moment anticipate 
that this excursion was to be fatal to him, that 
his first love should now for the first time see 
him by the side of his betrothed ! Marja 
Antonowna had aged very much during the 
last years; her features had a harsh, stern 
expression now, and there were dark-brown 
circles under her eyes. She looked sickly and 
grieved, and left the house only rarely and 
reluctantly. But the old lady in whose house 
she was living, forced her often to get some 
fresh air, telling her that she needed exercise 
and recreation. The poor, dear soul meant it 
well ; she could not know that Marja was sick at 
heart and had lost all relish of life. The sad, 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


297 


lonely sufferer obeyed her frequently, and on the 
day when Likin drove out with his betrothed, 
Marja also slowly left the house, to saunter list- 
'lessl}^ and wearily through the streets. Her 
heart was beating slowly, and from its dismal 
and mysterious depths sad, hideous thoughts 
were continually rising to the mind, where they 
remained lodged and made sad havoc with the 
poor girl’s diseased imagination. 

That last evening which she had spent in 
Alexander Michaelow’s company, had left indeli- 
ble impressions on her soul and made her 
ineffably unhappy. Months and years had gone 
by since then, but that evening ever recurred to 
her memory ; the legacy Andrej Shell had left 
her, ever rose before her mind’s eye and de- 
stroyed every faint light of hope, every little 
effort to secure peace or happiness. And that 
ill-fated legacy, forced upon her against her 
will, and to this day her most profound secret, 
had never yet been carried out ! 

When Michaelow had left her on that ominous 
evening, she had been almost unconscious. She 
presumed he would endeavor to avenge Shell 
and the People’s Cause on the traitor, even 
should it cost his life. But this traitor was Likin, 


298 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


her own Grisha, to whom she had ever remained 
faithful, in whom she had just begun to believe 
once more, and who now was found to have 
betrayed not only his companions and bosom 
friends, but also her, his early friend, his sister! 
Unable to do anything to prevent Michaelow 
from committing more crimes, from shedding 
more blood, she had sunk down before her saint’s 
holy image, and besought her to protect her 
Grisha ! Then, again wringing her hands and shed- 
ding bitter tears, she cursed herself for believing 
that Likin could be the traitor, the ineffable 
scoundrel, whom Michaelow painted in such 
bloody colors! After weeks and months of un- 
equalled sorrow and anguish, she had, however, 
reached the conclusion that Likin had actually 
deceived and betrayed his comrades and best 
friends, and, recklessly doubting the justice of 
God, she had left the fate of her beloved one 
and the lot of her dearest friends to chance I 
Then she had fainted away. 

The next morning her maid had found her 
lying on the floor; she had been put to bed, and 
then a violent nervous fever had prostrated her 
for months. At last she had recovered — in body ; 
her soul had never regained its health. By a 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


299 


mere chance a newspaper had fallen into her 
hands, and informed her of the unsuccessful 
attempt to murder Likin. She heard that 
Michaelow, severely wounded in the attempt, 
had been sentenced to death, but that, on account 
of his dignified conduct in prison and before his 
judges, the penalty had been changed into life- 
long penal labor in Siberia ! 

Then she had learned — she herself never knew 
how! — that he had, in company with many fel- 
low-exiles, made the long journey to the Ural, 
and was now in the mines there, still breathing, 
though buried, living and yet dead ! From that 
day she had abjured all intercourse with Nihil- 
ists ; she hardly knew any of the prominent 
leaders ; as no one ever asked her to co-operate 
with them, she considered herself fully released. 
Nor had she seen Likin; he was too busily 
engaged to visit his aunt’s house, as in former 
days ; she heard from the old lady that he was 
entirely absorbed in work for the “ Ochrana,” a 
body of volunteers, who formed a life-guard for 
the Czar ; that he had of late developed a perfect- 
ly marvelous energy in pursuing all revolution- 
ary attempts, being now in Charkow and now in 
Moscow, to-day in St. Petersburg, to-morrow in 


300 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Livadia, everywhere hunting down with merci- 
less fury all Nihilists and kindred conspirators. 
She was also told that he enjoyed the Czar’s per- 
sonal esteem and confidence, so that he had 
rapidly risen in the army ; his breast was cov- 
ered with crosses and stars, and the rank of gen- 
eral seemed to be in his reach, and with that, 
access to the highest rungs of the social ladder. 

All she thus heard of Likin affected her more 
deeply than she would confess. Contempt and 
admiration, hate and love, unceasingly struggled 
with each other in her, and triumphed alternately^ 
rending her heart, ruining her mind, and weak- 
ening her body. Recently she had, accidentally, 
while looking for something in her bureau, 
come upon Shell’s letter and the ring. Horror- 
struck, she had hurled both away, covering her 
face with both hands, as if unable to behold the 
bloody legacy. But of a sudden Likin’s foul 
treachery rose once more, clear and indisputable, 
before her mind ; she heard Michaelow’s last 
request — she heard her own answer : “ I will !” 
and with trembling voice she now added : “ I 

must do it !” But surely not now, not yet ! 

Thus day had followed day, week had followed 
week, and she had done nothing. She had tried 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


301 


to excuse herself; she did not know the Execin 
live Committee ; she ignored the very existence 
of former leaders, of old friends. There was but 
one thought which rose supreme above all 
others: When it was done, when she had obeyed 
Shell’s last command, there would come the 
end — she would have rest, peace, happiness ! 

Marja had to-day, also, wandered through the 
streets, vaguely absorbed in all kinds of such 
thoughts, and at last found herself in the street 
known as the Nevski Prospect. Here she fell 
into a current of men that was steadily flowing 
towards the Isaak Church, losing itself in the 
vast dimensions of this gigantic artery of the cit}*, 
and continually supplemented by new tributary 
crowds issuing from every side street. Thus 
she had drifted, as in a dream, as far as the 
Kasan Church, and here she paused. On her left 
were the imposing arcades of the Cathedral, 
forming a vast semi-circle ; on her right the noisy 
crowds of busy men moved to and fro, heavy 
carts came rumbling' by, elegant carriages with 
horses full of fire, droskys with worn-out old 
creatures in the shafts, and horsemen and ama- 
zons in abundance, .all glided by, almost inau- 
dibly, on the smooth. wooden pavement. 


302 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Marja’s eyes saw little of all this busy life. 
What were all these men to her? Their busi- 
ness were not her business, and all that she felt 
was that here also, as in her poor, broken heart, 
there was no restand no peace. No, this was no 
place for her! Her little room was better. She 
turned to go home. Just then a splendid landau 
came dashing up the broad avenue ; a high offi- 
cer and a lad}^ sat in it. Marja’s eye fell upon 
them and instantly she recognized Likin. Her 
foot stopped, the blood rushed to her head, and 
fiery sparks were dancing before her eyes. That 
was Gregory Petrowitch Likin — no doubt ! and 
a beautiful, high-bred lady at his side, with whom 
he kept up a tender conversation, a loving smile 
on his lips ! 

The carriage was far, far away, before Marja 
became once more conscious of the world by 
whom she was surrounded. At last the charm 
was broken ; a flood of blood rushed to her 
head, her teeth rattled and her whole frame 
trembled ; feverish shudderings seized the poor 
sufferer. Wild, savage jealously all at once got 
hold of her ; she almost ran to the bridge — her 
heart was beating audibly, her eyes were on 
fire. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


303 


She had but one thought : Who was that lady ? 
What were her relations to Likin ? She crossed 
llie wide street, not minding the countless ve- 
hicles, and escaping as by a miracle ; she hur- 
ried to Likin’s former dwelling; she must be cer- 
tain, promptly, perfettly certain. 

In the door stood Likin’s old servant Ivan, a 
short pipe in his mouth and condescendingly 
talking to the janitor. When he saw Marja com- 
ing up in a great state of excitement, he respect- 
fully took the pipe out of his mouth, and said : 
“ Ah, Marja Antonowna ; I have not seen you for 
a long time !” 

She was out of breath and thus gave him time 
to touch his cap and to ask once more : “ How 
are you ?” 

“ Is Gregory Petrowitch at home ?” Marja 
asked with some effort. 

“ The Lieutenant-Colonel is out driving. He 
is probably sitting by his betrothed — the wed- 
ding won’t be long !” and Ivan smiled with de- 
light. 

“ The betrothed ?” Marja tried to ask. She 
felt as if a hand of ice was stroking her down 
her back. 

“To be sure, the betrothed! To-day the be- 


304 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


trotlial takes place — at the house of the Princess 
Natalie Borissowna. A beautiful couple ! God 
be thanked ! I hope now the Colonel’s life will 
know a little better what repose is! Did you 
come to congratulate the Colonel?” 

Marja did not hear the question. “ He is 
engaged — he has a betrothed,” she heard din- 
ning into her ear. That also ! Now his meas- 
ure is full ! More than full ! What is her 
name ?” 

“ Anna Michaelowna,” replied Ivan proudly, 
and reverently doffed his huge fur cap. “The 
Princess Michaelowna, the grand-daughter of 
the Princess Nofalie Borissowna, one of the 
most beautiful and high-bred ladies in Holy 
Russia ! Just the woman for Gregory Petro- 
witch ! Such a man !” He looked very proud, 
Ivan, as he said this. “ You would hardly hav-^ 
dreamed, Marja Antonowna, that our Grisha 
Likin fi'om Muralino would ever become a great 
lord? Yes, the ways of our Lord and His Holy 
Mother are marvelous!” He piously folded his 
hands over his cap. 

Unspeakable bitterness filled Marja’s poor 
heaft. “A Princess!” she cried. “Surely the 
daughter of the people had to get out of the 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


305 


way.” She forgot entirely that Likin had told 
her candidly how matters stood between them— 
that he loved her no longer and never could 
marry her — that she would ever be dear to 
him as a sister. Her old, ardent love, never 
quite dead, always still hoping, flared up once 
more and destroyed every sense of truth and 
justice. “ He solemnly declared that never 
another woman had crossed his path and made 
him forget me ; that he had loved no one in this 
world but m^^self, and would never love any one 
else, and that he could not accept my love now 
only because he could love no one at all ! And 
now he has betrothed himself to another woman ! 
He has deceived and shamefully betrayed me! 
He only trifled with me ! All was a lie, deceit, 
hypocrisy. What did they tell me, when I con- 
fided my life’s history to Michaelow and his 
friend? ‘Revenge!’ they said. ‘Revenge! Do 
you hear, Marja Antonowna? Avenge thyself 
on him who has envenomed 3^0111* youth and 
ruined your life, who has deceived you, and 
grants to another what he has refused to 3^011 ! 
Avenge thyself on the scoundrel, who has sold 
his soul to the Evil One !’ ” 

Thus she reasoned in herself. Thus it raged 


306 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


and cried and whispered again in her heart, and 
she found not a word of forgiveness. Old Ivan 
looked at her face, which assumed a tempest- 
tossed appearance, with amazement. “ You do 
not look well, Marja Antonowna,” he said, full 
of concern. “What is the matter?” 

“ Nothing! Nothing at all ! G9od-b3^e, Ivan. 
My compliments to Gregory Petrovvdtch ! I’ll 
call again !” 

He lips said this, but her mind was uncon- 
scious. She turned and went away tottering, 
as if she were intoxicated, and putting down 
her feet instinctively only. She went, staring 
before her, at once home, never looking up, 
never going out of the way of any one. When 
she reached her house, she went in the san>e way 
up-stairs, without speaking to the aunt, entered 
her room, opened her bureau and took the letter 
and the ring — Shell’s legacy. These she carefully 
concealed in her bosom ; then she went down- 
stairs again in the same unconscious way and, in 
the street, hailed a drosky, and told the man to 
drive her to the house where she knew formerly 
the Executive Committee had their meetings. 

The janitor of the house, when. he saw the car- 
riage stop, came out to it, and looking at Marja 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


SOT 


distrustfully, asked whom she wished to see. 
Fortunately she remembered that the man was 
one of the Nihilists, and she asked him therefore 
boldly : “ Is the nobleman Golinowski at home ?” 

The man stared at her as if she were ’an 
apparition from another world. Then he came 
close up to the carriags, and upon her impatient- 
ly repeating the same question, he answered: 
“ Golinowski has long since been caught, sen- 
tenced and sent off. He was the Nihilist Shewski. 
Are you one of us ?” he asked, and looked sus- 
piciously at the driver. He, however, was 
calmly watching his horse. 

“ Of course,” replied Marja ; “ would I ask for 
Shewski, if 1 were not? Where are the leaders 
now to be found ?” 

“ I only know one, Degajew ; he lives in the 
Seventeenth Avenue, the corner house on the 
Neva Wharf, fourth story.” 

He had spoken so low, she heard him with 
difficulty. But she had understood him, nodded, 
and ordered the driver to go there. 

At the house she made him stop, gave him a 
whole rouble and, without noticing his air of 
surprise at the generous reward, she got out, 
entered the house and climbed upstairs. There 


308 


ALL OR NOTHING. 

she saw a white sign : Deg-ajew.” Who was 
Degajew ? Slie knew not and cared not — he 
was one of the Nihilist leaders, that was all she 
wanted. She rang the bell and after a while a 
door opened and she saw a short, stout man, 
well made, with short hair and his full beard 
carefully trimmed. 

“ What do you want?” he asked her roughly, 
and examining her from head to foot with his 
wicked-looking little eyes. 

“ I am looking for a member of the Executive 
Committee of ‘The People’s Will,”’ replied 
Marja, as if reciting a phrase carefully commit- 
ted to memory. “ I come in^Sasha’s business — 
with a message from Andrej Shell.” 

Degajew started back as if he had been bitten 
by a snake ; his eyes were ablaze with distrust 
and fear. “You have been wrongly informed,” 
he said stuttering. His eyes met Marja’s eyes 
and he was horror-struck. “ She is insane.” he 
thought, and drew back a step or two. 

Marja smiled with contempt and compassion. 
“I am not a spy ; I am a companion. The two 
deceased men, whom 1 represent, were my 
friends. I could not do what they wished me to 
do sooner, because I was sick. What 1 bring 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


309 


concerns Him — mind what I say ! — Him, who 
was once the head of the Executive Committee. 
The rest is in this letter of Shell’s. This ring is 
to confirm the letter !” 

She handed both to the amazed man, who 
refused to take the articles, hiding his hands 
behind his back. She bent over and told him in 
a whisper, “ I’ll tell 3^011 something else: He and 
Likin are one and the same person ! Likin wears 
the same ring on his neck. He is a traitor! The 
Executive Committee must avenge Shell and 
Michaelow on him I Do you understand me? 
Revenge is what I demand I Revenge !” 

She looked at Degajew with uncannny, flash- 
ing eyes. When he still kept silence and declined 
taking paper and ring, she became impatient, 
and said fiercely: “ Why don’t you take them?” 

Degajew thought at last it might be best to 
lake them ; at all events he would get rid of the 
woman. He took them and felt greatly relieved 
as he saw her turn and go downstairs without 
saying another word. 

When Marja reached the street, she went 
slowly along the wharf of the Neva. Her heart 
beat more calmly, her blood no longer rushed 
headlong through her veins ; in fact, it seemed 


810 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


to go slower and slower, and now and then to 
stop altogether. Her eyes saw nothing, her mind 
was utterly inactive; she did not see nor hear; 
she felt as if she were dead. Suddenly she felt 
tired, ineffably tired. Now she stopped and beat 
her forehead with her clenched hand. What had 
she done? Like the fall of a meteor, it suddenly 
came to her what she had done. She wanted to 
go back there, to ask for her paper, for her ring, 
but she found she could not stir. She felt once 
more how her heart ceased to beat; all was 
dark around her; she caught the air with out- 
spread fingers, uttered a feeble cry, and fell for- 
ward, down upon the hard granite-flags of the 
wharf. 


CHAPTER XVII. 

Likin left his house in full uniform, with a 
smile of self-satisfaction in his features and with 
the manner of a man who is fully conscious of 
his own importance. He stepped into the superb 
coup6, which he had but recently purchased, and 
ordered Ivan, who climbed up to the seat near 
the coachman, to drive first to Prince Peter's 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


311 


rooms. They were only a few hundred yards 
from his father’s palace, and Likin had sent him 
word that he would call for him a little before 
nine, to go with him to his grandmother’s recep- 
tion. He was, therefore, much surprised, when 
he found the windows all dark and upon going 
upstairs, the door also locked. He rang the bell 
and knocked, but all in vain ! He was just about 
to leave the house, when he saw Prince Peter’s 
servant without cap or cloak, but in great excite- 
ment, come running in from the street. As soon 
as he saw the Colonel, he hurried up several 
steps at once, and cried : “ Ah, Gregory Petro- 

witch, God be thanked that I find you here! 
My dear, good master has just been arrested !” 

Likin looked up amazed. “ Do not talk non- 
sense !” he said, angrily. “ Who could arrest the 
prince without my knowledge?” 

“ I tell you the truth,” answered the servant 
with tears in his eyes. “ My master had just 
finished his toilet and was waiting for you, 
when a carriage drove up and an officer came 
hurriedly upstairs. What he told my master I 
do not know, but I heard that the prince 
declared himself ready to follow the officer at 
once. He charged me to wait for you and to 


312 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


tell you that, upon an urgent invitation from the 
Head of the Police, he had gone to Police 
Headquarters. Major-General Gresser, he 
added, would give 3^011 the details. In my 
anxiety I ran at once to the Princess Sonia to tell 
her what had happened. I am just from there.” 

“ That was not very wise in 3^011,” said Likin 
rudely. “The ladies will be terribly excited, 
when there is no use for it, I dare say. Of 
course, there must be some misunderstanding. 
Go instantly back and tell the princess that I 
am at once gone to the Ministry of Police, and 
promise to come to her as soon as matters are 
explained. Otherwise, 3^011 must keep perfectl3^ 
silent; do you hear ? 

The servant ran off to deliver the message) and 
Likin drove at full gallop to the Head of Police. 
He looked furious and bit his own lower lip 
savagely. This was evidently another case of 
conflicting authority, such as he, the Head of 
the Secret Police, had almost daily to figlit witli 
the Governor of the Cit3% who was the head of 
tlie ordinary police. But — how came it that in 
so important an affair, he, Likin, had not even 
been notified ? And yet here was the male 
head of one of the ver3^ first families of the 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


313 


Empire suddenly arrested, and this step could 
not but create very great and very general 
excitement! Had they wished to spare him, 
whose close relations to the family were becom- 
ing more publicly known every day ? He must 
fathom this matter to the bottom, and, if needs 
be, go to the Emperor himself.” 

General Gresser received the Colonel with 
signal but cool courtesy ; he affirmed the 
prince’s arrest, which had been ordered upon 
demand of the Imperial Attorney-General and 
added, shrugging his shoulders, that for the 
present he could do nothing in the matter. The 
prince was in one of the rooms of the Ministry 
and would be treated with all the consideration 
due to his rank and his position. But there 
must certainly be good reason to suspect him of 
some connection with revolutionary intrigues, 
and as the arrest had been made, to his great 
astonishment, without notifying the Corps of 
Gcndames, the Secret Police, it was probably 
due to older documents and to evidence of 
recently arrested Nihilists. General Gresser 
added, that he had at first hesitated to order the 
arrest, whereupon the Attorney-General had 
informed him, that Prince Peter Michaelowitch 


314 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


had certainly been in some way involved in the 
trial of Alexander Michaelow, who had, how- 
ever, so positively denied the prince’s participa- 
tion in any act or plot of the Nihilists, that the 
matter had then been dropped. Now the 
Attorney-General had, in some mysterious way, 
discovered that it was this Michaelow, who had 
been closely connected with Prince Peter, and 
that he had lied atrociously to save his friend. 
Under these circumstances General Gresser 
had not deemed it expedient to refuse the arrest, 
and this was literally all he knew and was at 
liberty to let be known. 

Likin had only with great difficulty been able 
to restrain his wrath during this explanation, 
and he now said very sharply : “ I must never- 

theless regret deeply, that Your Excellency did 
not deem it expedient to come to an under- 
standing with me before ordering the arrest. I 
could have shown that the Attorney-General’s 
suspicions are unfounded. No one knows 
better than I do, that the young prince has never 
had anything to do with revolutionary efforts or 
criminal men. I am convinced His Majesty, 
when properly informed, will disapprove of the 
Attorney-General’s premature zeal. Such mis- 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


315 


takes, affecting the highest social circles and 
wounding and distressing persons known to the 
Emperor, cannot possibly be justified by his 
intentions.” 

Likin, who in Army-precedence was inferior 
to the Governor, but had in his special office 
equal rights, had spoken in a tone, as if correct- 
ing the great man. 

This was more than the General could bear ; 
he replied to the haughty glances of the Colonel 
with an almost contemptuous smile, speaking 
coldly and even scornfully, as he said: “You 
address your remarks to the wrong authority. I 
am not in the least interested in the matter ; per- 
haps it will be your pleasure to confer with the 
Attorney-General !” 

Likin, in his anger, forgot his usual self-con- 
trol ; he measured the General from head to foot 
and exclaimed in a menacing tone : “ 1 shall con- 
fer with an authority which is as supreme for 
Your Excellency as for the Attorney-General; 
you shall hear from me !” He saluted and left 
the room with heavy steps and reverberating 
spurs. 

The General looked after him wrathfully ; his 
eyebrows nearly met, and he murmured in his 


316 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


beard : “ The presumption of this man is grow- 
ing from day to day ; we must once for all make 
an end to such insolent conduct !”. Then he sat 
down to make his report on the arrest of the 
young prince. In this document he did not 
mention Likin’s name ; Prince Peter Michaelo- 
witch, however, was represented as a highly 
dangerous person. 

Likin entered, shortly after his interview with 
the general, the brilliant apartments of the Prin- 
cess Natalie Borissowna, where a numerous com- 
pany was already assembled. Fortunately^ only 
the nearest relatives and friends of the family 
had been invited, so that the guests could speak 
freely. This explained why the unexpected 
arrest of Prince Peter was openly discussed and 
all were in a state of tremor and consternation. 
Likin was, of course, attacked on all sides with 
questions: he must necessarily know all about 
it, people thought. Was He not the Head of the 
Secret Police of the Empire — and was not the 
arrested man the son of the house with which 
he was to be so closely united ? He had recov- 
ered entirely from the first amazement and 
regained his ordinary repose and winning man- 
ners. He gave most readily all the information 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


317 


he possessed, he looked perfectly calm, and 
spoke so carelessly about the occurrence, that 
the dark clouds which had hung over the assem- 
bled crowd before his arrival, promptly scattered, 
and all felt the relief thus afforded. Then, stand- 
ing at the side of Anna Michaelowna, he received 
the congratulations of the guests with a radiant 
face, sure of victory, and found a happy, courte- 
ous reply for every one. Thus the evening 
passed, if not really pleasantly, at least without 
a serious interruption ; although it was felt by 
all, that there was an invisible, dark foreboding 
oppressing all minds. 

The Princess Sonia Nicolajewna, heartily glad 
as she was to see her daughter happy, and 
anxiously as she tried to conceal her apprehen- 
sions, could still not forget her disappointment 
at her son’s absence and her fear for his fate. 
The older Princess Natalie looked upon the 
arbitrary treatment of her grandson as a personal 
insult, and expressed a desire to drive in the 
night to Gatchina, to see the Czar and in person 
to lodge her complaint. It was but natural, 
therefore, that the guests left sooner than usual 
and only the family remained awhile in the living- 
rooms. They, however, withdrew also, after 


318 


ALL OR NOTHING, 


Likin had once more solemnly promised to do 
all that was in his power to set Prince Peter 
free. He took tender leave of his betrothed, 
thanking her with a proud flash of his eyes for 
the brave calmness which she had preserved 
through the whole evening. Anna was exceed- 
ingly happy to find her efforts thus appreciated, 
but as Likin’s tall form disappeared in the vesti- 
bule she could not master an overwhelming sense 
of anxiety — she wanted to call him back, but her 
voice failed her, and when she retired to her 
private rooms, she felt sure that a dark shadow 
had fallen on her unclouded happiness. 

The object of all these cares and anxieties 
was in the meantime lying at full length and 
most comfortably oh an old, easy sofa in the 
room assigned to him, and merrily blew the 
smoke of his cigarette to the ceiling of the room. 
Prince Peter Michaelowitch had ripened into a 
full-grown man ; a short, full beard contrasted 
with the fresh, healthy complexion ; his figure 
had filled up and looked more manly, more im- 
posing ; his whole appearance had improved in 
manly beauty and dignified self-respect. At 
first he bad been excessively angry, taking no 
pains to conceal his indignation. Gradually, 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


319 


ii )\\ cver, his quiet conscience had given him 
back his usual equanimity ; he had calmly fol- 
lowed the officer who had arrested him, and 
when the Attorney-General told him that he 
was suspected of favoring Nihilism, he had 
frankly told him how such suspicions had prob- 
ably originated. 

Several years ago he had permitted a fugitive, 
who was utterly unknown to him, to escape 
through his apartments. On another occasion 
he had accompanied a young lieutenant, when 
both were rather merry after a generous supper, 
to a ball, at which, as he afterwards only learned. 
Nihilists of both sexes were present. As to the 
whole revolutionary party, he had never taken 
any interest in them, and his information about 
them came from the newspapers ; he had lived 
only for his studies, and finall}^ he had not been in 
St. Petersburg for a year, but tried to learn 
farming practically in Courland. He was now in 
St. Petersburg because, in compliance with his 
grandmother’s wishes, he meant to have himself 
presented at Court at New Year. As to his 
political views, he had hardly any ; he was a 
good and loyal Russian, loving the Czar and the 
Czar’s people, and abhorring with his whole 


320 


ALT. OR NOTHING. 


heart all the revolutionary plots and conspira- 
cies. If he had committed a fault, he might 
be pardoned on the score of his youth and want 
of decretion ; crime he was sure he had not com- 
mitted. 

During this statement the Attorney-General, 
buttoned up to the chin, haughty, and bursting 
with bureaucratic arrogance, had repeatedly 
shaken his head ominously, but this suspicious 
manner of the great man had not diminished 
Peter’s courage. If what he had done at the sug- 
gestion of his good heart, or led by the merest 
chance, was to be called a crime — who in the 
world would then be free of guilt? He was not 
so easily frightened, but followed the officer into 
his prison quite cheerfully and ordered a supper. 

He was treated with special courtesy and this 
increased his confidence. As he was lying now 
on the comfortable couch and followed the blue 
rings of the cigarette-smoke, he even began to 
think the everrt an amusing incident. He, the 
most loyal of the Emperor’s subjects, suspected 
of being a Nihilist! Prince Peter smiled. Greg- 
ory Petrowitch would arrange it all to-morrow 
morning. And what would Plena say ? Was not 
her wish now fulfilled ; that he should do some- 



?kiARJ4 OLD JV4N,— l>age 303, 




ALL OR NOTHlNO. 


3^1 

thing that would make the world speak of him ? 
And was not what he had done an act of kind- 
ness? Had he not proven his humane disposition, 
when he let that man Michaelow escape, who 
was afterwards executed ? Was he. Prince 
Peter, not now a martyr, kept in prison, because 
he had certain views and principles? His 
thoughts wandered back to Plena. She must 
come herself now and beg him to return to her; 
he had fulfilled all her demands, become a man, 
a man useful in the world, esteemed by others, 
and now a victim of his goodness. Yes, she must, 
she certainly would come! 

The cigarette was used up, his head sank 
back into the soft cushions, his eyes closed, and 
soon his deep, regular breathing showed that 
Prince Peter Michaelowitch, in the consciousness 
of his innocence, had fallen asleep! 

But he had deceived himself. Day after day 
went by, and he was not set free. Four weeks, 
in fact, had passed, and he was still a prisoner. 
Likin was furious. He had pledged himself that 
the young prince should be set free at once, and 
he had not been able to do it! He evidently had 
enemies, powerful enemies, all the more formid- 
able, because he did not know where to look for 


822 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


them ; where to counteract them. The Attor- 
ney-General had expressly excluded all interfer- 
ence on the part of the Secret Police; he declared 
he had evidence enough to justify his action. 
The Czar, whom Likin had prayed to grant him 
an audience, had not yet given an answer, and 
he felt this all the more bitterly, as he had never 
before been kept waiting so long. He blamed 
Prince Peter for his too great readiness, his 
almost childish candor, in telling on himself, and 
was in a rage, when he heard that, during a 
search in the prince’s house, a little, rolled-up 
card had been found in one of his old trousers 
with the ominous.words : “Country and Free- 
dom ” written on it. The prince had stated 
that he had found the card one day in the street, 
and had put it into his pocket without think- 
ing — but who would believe him? And now it 
became clear to Likin that there was somewhere, 
in profound secrecy, an agenc}^ at work, that was 
bent upon ruining the prince and through him, 
others. Besides, they had over-hastil}^ arrested 
a member of the highest society, and now every 
effort was made to justify the act ! This was 
mean ; but such things are done! 

If he could only see the Emperor I He would 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


323 


mercilessly avow and reveal eve)*ything, and 
the upright sense of the Master would at 
once defeat the wicked plots of his servants. He 
was sure the Czar would act thus, and then all 
was right again. If he could but obtain the 
audience ! 

And then, there was that ugly story about 
Marja Antonowna, which grieved and annoyed 
him sadly. On the day after his betrothal his 
aunt had written to him, that Marja had on 'the 
day before left the house in a state of extraordi- 
nary excitement and never returned. She begged 
him to have inquiry made, as she feared Marja 
might have met with an accident. The police 
had soon discovered her, l3M'ng very ill in a hos- 
pu'tal, with slight wounds in her face. She had 
been found lying unconscious on the Neva 
Wharf, and at once been carried to a general 
hospital. Now she was well again, back at her 
lodgings, but so far she had refused to see Likin. 
The aunt stated that she behaved like a mentally 
sick person, wailing and weeping all day long in 
the most heart-rending manner! Why would 
she not see him? What mystery was here? 

Perplexed and annoyed Likin was walking up 
and down in his room, when a sergeant of gen- 


324 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


darmes brought him a letter. “Workmen,” he 
reported, “ while cleaning the monument of Czar 
Peter in Alexander Gardens, have found this let- 
ter under the left hoof of the iron-horse and car- 
ried it to the offices of the Gendarmes. There it 
was thought proper to hand it to Likin, as it had 
no address.” Likin glanced at the letter, and the 
blood stopped in his veins as he saw the address 
— “ For Him F 

“Very well,” he said to the messenger. “ You 
can go !” 

As soon as the man had turned his back, Likin 
tore the letter open. “ From the Executive 
Committee ! For years the first communication ! 
What can it mean He opened the sheet of 
paper and read : 

“For7//w.' 

“We remind you of your oath to appear 
before us, whenever we have to demand some 
explanation. As we propose new enterprises, 
we summon you to appear before us four weeks 
hence, on December the i6th, at nine o’clock P. 
M. at lablonski’s in Old Stable Street, No. 46, in 
order to renew former connections and to justify 
your long silence. 

“ The Executive Committee 

OF THE ‘ The People’s Will.’ ” 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


325 


Likin was thrown into a state of terrible 
excitement. Was this a snare? Hardly ! Such 
a letter would have found another way to 
reach him. Evidently he was not yet known to 
these men or they would not have committed 
themselves so frankly. Why might he not 
arrest the men if he chose ? It was not a trick. 
Should he go there ? Should he annihilate 
them at one blow? Or should he resume the old 
threads, which had escaped his hands? This was 
the sixteenth December, the last day appointed 
for an interview. Why should he not go and 
see who the new leaders might be? Why 
might he not once more learn to know their 
plans and purposes, enter into their secrets and 
then, at the last moment, capture the whole 
gang? Then he would show the Emperor that 
he was still the man who alone could save and 
protect society against these rebels and conspir- 
ators. 

He raised his head to heaven ; his eyes shone 
radiantly with keen, inflexible energy ; he was 
once more the Likin of old. The adventure 
tempted him; fear was unknown to him. He 
had met very different men from these— a 
pack of contemptible Nihilists! He might, 


326 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


however, take precautions. Why not take a 
trustworthy companion? He went to his table 
and pressed a button. Ivan appeared and was 
ordered to request Lieutenant Dowski to come 
to him at 8 o’clock, to meet an adventure with 
his Colonel ! Besides this, Ivan was to make 
ready the old disguise ; the citizen’s dress, the 
havelock, the long, black beard and the felt 
boots, with a similar outfit for the lieutenant. 

Ivan looked up in consternation and hesitated ; 
he suddenly felt terribly anxious, and for the 
first time in his life he ventured to remonstrate. 
“ You will surely not go, Gregory Petro witch,” 
he asked, and his voice trembled painfully. I 
had hoped — now — after your engagement — ” 

“ Never mind, old man,” Likin broke in, pat- 
ting him affectionately on the shoulder; “ it will 
be the last time !” 

Ivan hesitated again ; he shook his head ere 
slowly, reluctantly, he went out to fulfill his 
master’s orders. Likin dressed quickly and 
drove away to dine with the old Princess. It 
was late in the afternoon when his sleigh 
stopped at the house ; he told his coachman to 
come for him at half-past seven and went in. 
Here he found all in unusual commotion. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


327 


riena had suddenly and quite unexpectedly 
come up from Dulino ; servants were running 
busily to and fro, carrying baggage upstairs and 
getting rooms ready for the princess. She her- 
self was sitting in the drawing-room and quietly 
giving an account of her life in the country, and 
the purpose of her present journey. “ And 
really, Gregory Petrowitch,” she said, after a 
very cordial greeting, “ you bring no better news 
yet about Peter’s unfortunate affair?” 

“ I must, to my great regret, say No!’ Likin 
answered, angrily. “ It is scandalous! but I have 
not been able to do anything so far !” 

“ I would beg you,” said Plena, with unusual 
decision, “ not to do anything more ; I will take 
the matter in hand, and I am sure I shall very 
promptly settle it to our satisfaction.” 

“ You, Flenushka ?” exclaimed the old princess 
sighing, while all looked at Plena in astonish- 
ment. “What can you do?” 

“ That I cannot tell you to-day, but you may 
trust me !” Here the Princess Sonia attempted 
to interrupt her, but she continued quickly : “ I 

know what I want, and I am apt to carry my 
point. You alone can help me. Grandmamma! 
Obtain for me an audience with the Emperor !” 


328 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


She said this very calmly, and her face spoke 
of as much energy as cheerful certainty. The 
old lady assented readily enough, while Likin 
watched Plena eagerly. Was this the little 
insignificant girl whom he had hardly noticed at 
Dulino? She seemed to have grown taller, her 
outlines were all fuller ; her hair, instead of hang- 
ing down behind her in long braids, was. skillfull}^ 
wound around the well-shaped head, and in her 
features dwelt a serious and 'well-poised mind. 
The sunny smile, that used to dwell in her dim- 
ples and at the corners of the mouth, had disap- 
peared ; only the slightly turned-up nose looked 
as boldly and haughtily as ever into the wide 
world. Her whole appearance bespoke as much 
grace as dignity, and with all its naive simplicity 
commanded respect. 

They went to dinner and the conversation was 
almost confined to discussions of Peter’s affair 
and the possible effect of the Czar’s intervention. 
Plena was not to be intimidated ; she refused to 
tell what she meant to say to the Emperor, but 
she felt sure of success. After dinner all with- 
drew to rest awhile; Likin alone remained with 
Anna. 

I am inclined to think,” said the latter, “ that 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


329 


our Flenushka loves Peter; she never confessed 
so much, but her coming up now shows that she 
at least feels a very special interest in my poor 
brother.” 

“ Thus we shall have a second happy couple,” 
Likin said smiling and kissing Anna’s hand ; “ 1 
know that Peter loves Plena.” 

“ God grant us a happy solution,” sighed Anna. 
“ I feel so sad to-day, I could weep ! Pray, 
Gregory, stay with me to-night ! I cannot do 
without you.” 

Likin’s face darkened. “ I am engaged to-night 
in a very important, official duty, which I cannot 
abandon.” 

“ You are not going to be exposed to danger ?” 
Anna asked, looking anxiously up at him. “ I 
should be unspeakably wretched if anything 
were to happen to you.” She came close up to 
him and wound her arms around his neck. 

“ Calm 3 'Ourself, heart of my heart !” he said 
affectionately. “My star is yet shining in the 
zenith, and I do not mean in the least to let it be 
eclipsed. But I am the slave of my position. A 
man who is at the outposts must expect to hear 
the balls whistle. But my luck is with me !” 

“ And my love watches over you ! Look, 


330 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Gregory, 1 often think how much better it would 
be, if you and I were to flee, far off, into some 
quiet corner of the world, and there live to our- 
selves. And then, again, 1 banish such thoughts. 
I feel that your place can only be where daring 
and fighting are found. That is why I am so 
proud of you. An eagle that lets his wings 
droop, is no longer the king of the air. But I 
love the eagle who ever faces the sun, ever rises 
upwards, and I feel in me the strength to rise 
like on wings up with you. When I shall be 
your wife, you must take me wherever you go.” 

“And if I fall — what then?” 

“ Then I shall know that 3 ^ou fell in bold dar- 
ing. I would kiss your pale lips and follow you. 
They may bury our bodies, but our souls would 
fly on, higher and higher, towards the light !” 
Suddenly icy showers chilled her whole body; 
she hid her face on his breast. “ What foolish 
talk !” she whispered. 

“ Foolish and blissful ! Preserve your love 
and your pride!” He kissed her ardently and 
rose slowly. “ I go to get my general’s commis- 
sion !” A smile of triumph illumined his face. 

“ Go, Gregory,” she said tenderly, “ but be 
sure and come back ! Come back this night 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


331 


however late it may be. I shall find no rest till I 
know you are safe at home ! You see, I do not ask 
where you go, what you propose to do — I know 
it must be something great, if you leave me in 
spite of my prayers. But I shall, I must, see 
you again — to-night !” 

“ I shall be back by eleven o’clock. Good- 
bye. In the meantime, God be with you!” 

He embraced and kissed her once more ten- 
derly ; then he tore himself away and went off 
with firm, ringing steps. Anna followed him 
long with her eyes ; her slender form seemed to 
grow ; on her cheeks burned a fire, and her eyes 
were flashing. A mysterious voice whispered 
to her: “He will never return. This is the 
last time you will see him I” She turned pale 
and rushed to the door, crying : ‘^Gregory — 
go not — go not!” Then she composed herself 
and said : “What foolish fears! What is the 
matter with me to-day? I fear my happiness 
has made me nervous.” She slowly walked 
through the empty rooms to her mother’s 
boudoir. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

After leaving his betrothed, Likin first drove 
home, where he found Lieutenant Dowski, a 
slender young man, with an open and intelli- 
gent face. He briefly explained to him what he 
proposed to do, made him promise the strictest 
secrecy, and admonished him to play the 
Nihilist as well as he could and, above all, to 
avoid calling him by his name. He was going 
to arrange a second meeting with the Executive 
Committee, and then to capture the whole gang. 

Dowski was all excitement ; the adventure 
delighted him and he promised to obey his chief 
implicitly. They changed their costume, aided 
by Ivan, and disguised themselves; finally, they 
armed themselves with their revolvers. Likin 
concealed, in addition, a good sized dagger, 
[332] 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


333 


inlaid with silver, of Tcherkessiaii workmanship. 
“ I do not think,'’ he said smiling, “ we shall need 
any weapons, but it is better to be prepared. 
These men treat me with a certain respect, and 
as long as they think us Nihilists, we are in no 
danger. And who would betray us ?” 

They left the house to take a cab, and when 
they had secured one, they drove slowly 
towards Old Stable Street. At the same time 
Marja Antonowna also left her room, wrapped 
in a dark, wide cloak, a hood drawn low over 
head and face ; slie slipped down the stairs and 
out of the house ; then she crept cautiously 
along the walls of the houses, making her way 
painfully through the newly fallen snow. It 
had snowed all day long. Her eyes burned with 
uncanny fire under her hood, and from her lips 
fell continually incoherent words : “ Go on, go 

on! More snow and more snow! The world 
wants a pall. It wants to be buried. We all 
must die — all ? No, not Grisha ! I do not want 
Grisha to die ! I will warn him, as 1 did in 
Moscow ! He must live, the accursed one ! Yes, 
live, live. I must see him !” 

She uttered the last words with a loud yell 
and hurried on with feverish eagerness. Now 


334 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


she was standing before Likin’s house ; she 
hesitated a moment and then she pulled the 
bell, so that it rang through the house, and she 
heard eager steps. The door opened and the 
janitor appeared ; behind him, on the stairs, she 
saw Ivan’s careworn face. Marja went past the 
janitor in silence, and walked up to Ivan, who at 
sight of her, started back horrorstruck. ‘‘ I know 
you love your master,” she whispered to him 
mysteriously. “We two love Grisha — you and 
I — no one else — don’t we? Well, we must save 
Grisha — you and I — they want to murder him, 
the Nihilists — I have betrayed him !” 

She covered her face with both hands and 
began to weep silently ; she tottered and would 
have fallen if Ivan had not caught her in his 
arms. The old servant looked around helpless, 
and interchanged silent but eloquent glances 
with the janitor. Both spoke to Marja and tried 
to calm her; she let them talk, and whined and 
wailed like an infant. Of a sudden she raised her 
head, and asked : “ Is Grisha at home ?” 

“No, Marja Antonowna, no!” replied Ivan, 
and a horrible fear seized the poor man. “ He 
has gone out, disguised, to Old Stable Street — 
oh, God ! oh, God ! why did I let him go ?” 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


335 


Marja freed herself violently and rushed to 
the door. “ He is gone I” she shrieked, “ he is 
gone to them ! They are murdering him, Ivan, 
murdering him! Help, help! Save Grisha!” 

She tottered out, and soon ran again through 
the deep snow ; her hands were waving wildly 
in the air, and her hoarse calls for help and for 
rescue sounded incessantly through the whirling 
snow-flakes. 

Ivan, who had in his anxiety for Likin recov- 
ered his self-control, called upon the janitor at 
once to send a few gendarmes with an officer to 
Old Stable Street, and then rushed bare-headed 
and without a cloak after Marja. He soon over- 
took her, seized her arm and hurried with her, 
trying to calm her, but with unspeakable an- 
guish in his heart, toward the ill-fated street. 

Likin and Dowski had, in the meantime, 
reached their destined place ; they had paid 
the cab driver, and were walking toward the 
house mentioned in the letter. It was an old, 
tumble-down, forsaken building. It looked as if 
it had been doomed to demolition, for all the 
windows were empty and heaps of rubbish lay 
about. The door stood open and the two officers 
entered. 


336 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


“This looks gruesome here,” Likin said, con- 
temptuously. “ A genuine robbers’ cave.” 

They ascended a flight of steps and found a ' 
long passage, at the end of which light seemed 
to shine through a crack in the door. “ I’ll make 
fire,” said Likin, when they had gone cautiously 
and silently about half-way down the passage; 
“wait a moment!” He lit a tiny wax-light, 
which he used instead of matches, and they 
walked on, aided by the weak, flickering light. 
On the right and the left were doors, but they 
bore nonumbers. At last Likin noticed a Roman 
Thirteen drawn with chalk on a door, and under 
it the name of “ lablonski.” As there was evi- 
dently light behind this door, Likin blew out his 
candle and struck the door two powerful blows. 

One moment all was silent ; then steps were 
heard approaching the door. It was pushed 
open and a short, stout man, with reddish hair 
and beard, and vile, lowering eyes, appeared. 

“ Who are you?” he asked bluntly. 

“Companions!” Likin answered calmly. “1 
am he whom you have summoned to appear here 
to-night!” He drew from his breast-pocket the 
letter of the Executive Committee and handed it 
to the man. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


337 









“ Ah !” said the latter, “the Head ! You do 
not come alone ?” 

“ I bring a brother, who will be welcomed by 
you !” 

“ Enter !’' 

He let Likin and Dowski go past him, and 
carefully locked the door behind them. 

The room was very large, but Likin instantly 
noticed that it had no windows and only one 
other door, which stood open and showed utter 
darkness beyond. On the left, just opposite 
this open door, he saw an old sofa with a clum- 
sily made table before it, and on that a petroleum 
lamp. On the sofa sat two men, very suspicious- 
looking, and as unknown to Likin as the first 
man, who had opened the door. Around this 
table stood chairs up to the center of the room, 
and on the floor lay numerous bricklayers' 
utensils, among them a number of crowbars. To 
the left there was a small door visible. 

Likin had taken in the situation at a single 
glance. Now he stepped forth, dignified and 
perfectly composed. “ You have wished to see 
me, my friends, and faithful to my oath, which 1 
have once sworn to you, I am here. What do 
you wish to say to me ?" 

He was lightly leaning on the table, with his 


338 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


back to the door of the adjoining room, and 
looked straight into the faces of the two men 
on the sofa, as if he meant to pierce them with 
his looks. Dowski took carelessly a seat on 
one of the chairs. The red-haired man went 
round both of them and remained standing near 
Likin. 

“We have summoned you,” said one of the 
two men on the sofa, whose stately form was ill- 
suited to the workman’s blouse which he wore, 
and whose voice sounded sharp and haughty, 
“ we have summoned you, the former head of 
the party of the People’s Will, to win you over 
once more for our cause, if you have remained 
faithful to your vows, or to punish you, as you 
deserve, if you have broken your oath and be- 
trayed our predecessors. There are grave 
charges against you laid before us.” 

Likin’s figure grew visibly under these threat- 
ening words and his eyes shot forth flashes of 
lightning from under the broad brim of his hat. 
“What!” he called out in his deep, sonorous 
voice, but angril}^ “ do you dare speak to me 
thus; to me, whom a Mirow and a Michaelow 
have ever blindly obeyed? Who are you to 
come to me in this way? Let those wlio accuse 
me stand forth ! I shall answer them fully !” 


AIJ. OR NOTHING. 


339 


“Just look how brazen he is ! Lay aside your 
disguise, if you are an honest fellow !” cried the 
redbeard. 

A contemptuous, menacing look of Likin, made 
him keep silence. 

Now the Nihilist, who had first addressed him, 
rose and handed him Shell’s letter. “Read this,” 
he said rudely, “ and tell us what you have to 
say in reply !” 

Likin’s eye flew over Shell’s farewell message. 
Not a muscle in his face betrayed what was go- 
ing on within. He put the paper on the table 
and said calmly : “ Our dear friend. Shell, had 

seen ghosts. I have no part in Likin’s conduct !” 

“And yet 3 ^ou arc Likin !” cried the redbeard, 
who had approached him unnoticed, and now, 
with one pull, tore the false beard from his chin. 

“ Very well, then,” said Likin, turning pale, 
but not for a moment losing his composure, and 
crossing his arms over his breast, “ 1 am Likin ! 
But what does that mean ? Do you find it un- 
pleasant to find in me a companion? I have 
served the party of the People’s Will as well as 
I could, and probably most efficiently, when I 
was in appearance your adversary. My position 
demanded that — ” 


34u 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


The redbeard interrupted him. “ Silence, 
traitor! We have found out your game! May 
the blood of all whom thou liast murdered rest 
upon thee !” 

Here Dowski jumped up and stood by Likin. 

In the same moment a shot fell, and Likin 
staggered, being hit in the back. Several men, 
Degajew at their head, rushed out from the dark, 
revolvers in hand, and fell upon the two officers. 
Likin, though wounded, had not lost his presence 
of mind yet; he pulled out his revolver, pushing 
Dowski against that wall from which the door 
led into the passage; and crying out: “ Dowski, 
protect 3^our rear!” he shot down the redbeard. 

Now shot fell after shot. Dowski, hit in the 
breast, shoulders and head alike, sank to the 
ground unconscious. Two of the Nihilists were 
writhing on the floor, but when Likin aimed at 
Degajew, a ball smashed his right hand, and his 
pistol fell. He bent down quickly and with his 
left hand raised one of the heavy crowbars. Like 
a madman he wielded it and for a time drove his 
enemies away; their revolvers were exhausted. 
Now, however, they also picked up crowbars, 
and furiously fell upon Likin, who was thus 
driven towards the small door in’ the corner. 


^ ALL OR NOTHING. 


341 


Once more he delivered a fearful blow upon the 
head of one of the Nihilists, so that the brains 
were spattered all over the room, and then he 
tried to tearopen.the door. It flew open, but to 
his horror he saw that it only led into a dark 
lean-to. In the same moment a terrific blow fell 
upon his head ; he tottered an instant, and then 
he plunged headlong into the dark abyss. 

“ Finish him !” cried Degajew, and bringing the 
crowbar to bear upon the back of his head, he 
crushed it, and with it life out of his victim. 

Once more the powerful body shuddered ; 
then the limbs relaxed, stretched out, and Likin 
was dead ! 

Ominous silence fell upon the room, in which 
but a moment before loud cries had been heard 
and men had fought so fiercely. Then Degajew 
cried out savagely: “He has his due!” and 
bending over the body, he tore open coat, waist- 
coat and shirt. The little chain with the 
golden image and the ring became visible. He 
looked at them and cried : “ It is the same 

ring! * Auf Ccssar aut ftihil !' Evidently it is 
nihil with him now !” he repeated, savagely 
exulting. “ You scoundrel ! You vile traitor!” 
Then he urged all to seek safety in flight. 


342 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


Three of the Nihilists were dead, two seriously 
wounded. The survivors opened the door lead- 
ing into the passage, and began anxiously to get 
out of sight both the dead bodies and the 
wounded men. In the court two large sleighs 
were standing ; upon these the dead were laid first 
— then the two wounded men on such beds as 
could be gotten together. Lastly, the Nihilists 
themselves mounted as well as they. could and 
away they drove through the open gates. The 
snow continued falling and quickly obliterated 
all traces. 

Upstairs, however, the one little lamp on the 
small table had been left burning and cast a dim 
light upon the blood-bespattered walls and the 
dirty pools that had formed on the uneven 
floor; it illumined faintly, as the feeble rays 
flickered in the stirring air, the corpses, of the 
two officers. 

Marja and Ivan had at last reached Old Stable 
Street, and had helplessly wandered about in the 
deserted, silent street. At one time Marja had 
thought she heard several shots fired and had 
stopped to try and hear distinctly. Her hands 
had grasped Ivan’s arm with iron firmness, and 
her eyes were staring, like those of a wild beast, 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


343 


into the darkness. But nothing more had been 
heard The heavy snow continued to fall and 
to deaden all sounds. Panting, they had gone 
on, struggling with crimson faces and strained 
muscles against the elements. 

All of a sudden they saw two large sleighs 
drive furiously out of a gateway, into the street, 
and pass them noiselessly. On the sleighs black 
forms were visible ; not a cr}" was heard, no 
beating of hoofs ! Like spectral visions they 
had gone by, swift as a thought, and not a trace 
was left in the heavy snowdrifts ! Marja had 
shuddered and shivered while watching the 
strange procession, and her teeth rattled and 
knocked against each other. Now she broke 
out into a yelling, hysterical laugh and cried, 
sobbing and wailing: “ Too late, Ivan ! Those 
were the bloody men, the executioners ! There 
— in that house — I see him — he lies there — my 
Grisha — covered with stabs and wounds and 
shots — bloody, dead — dead !” 

She stretched out her arms to heaven and 
rushed toward the gateway, out of which the 
gruesome sleighs with their ghastly load had 
come. At the same moment, out of a side street, 
a troop of mounted gendarmes broke forth at 


344 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


full gallop, and dashed up to the two pedestrians. 
The officer in command checked his horse near 
Ivan, and learned from him in feverish haste, 
what anxiety had driven the faithful old servant 
to defy the night and the snow-storm and to 
make his way to this ill-omened place. 

Marja had, in the meantime, reached the door 
of the house ; she climbed up the stairs and 
passed along the corridor to the place where a 
dim light could be seen beyond an open door. 
Some of the gendarmes had alighted and now 
followed her, led by Ivan and their officer. When 
the}^ entered the room of the meeting, a truly 
horrid spectacle met their eyes and, men of war 
as they were, made them shudder. Marja had, 
with supernatural strength, drawn Likin’s body 
from out of the compartment in which it had 
lain, and bedded his head on her lap. She was 
perfectly silent now, looking with unmeaning 
smiles into those eyes, that had once been eagle- 
like, bold and open, but now looked icy cold and 
fixed ; she was gently stroking the cold cheeks. 

At this sight Ivan’s knees gave way'; he fell, 
groaning; and, weeping like a child, beat the 
floor with his forehead and incessantly crossed 
himself with trembling hands. 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


345 


The officer, deeply moved, drew near to Marja, 
and asked her with tremulous voice:' “Is he 
dead ?” 

Marja looked shyly up at him ; then she nodded 
and said icily : “ Yes, he had to be so! He had 
lost old Tatjana’s ring and wore a false one 
around his neck. Everything was false about 
him — everything !” 

She shuddered from head to foot, let Likin’s 
head fall on the floor, and raised herself. The 
hood had slipped from her head and her hair 
was hanging dishevelled about her. She walked 
out, taking no notice of the people, left the house 
and walked down the street, turning after awhile 
into a side street. Here a gendarme was sta- 
tioned, whom she asked : “ Do you know, little 

brother, that Colonel Likin has been murdered? 
Yes, yes, stare at me ! Gregory Petro witch is 
dead — dead like a rat ! I have murdered him ! 
1 am a Nihilist !” 

She had spoken this mysteriously, in whispers 
only. Now she bent forward, looked into his 
face, nodding and smiling, and continued in the 
same subdued yoice : “ Yes, yes, well may you 

stare! 1 am a murderer, a Nihilist!” 

The man thought this was not natural ; he 


346 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


seized Marja with strong arm and drew her to 
the nearest police-station. She followed him 
without resisting, evidently unconscious of what 
was done to her, only continually murmuring: 
“ Yes, he is dead — I murdered him — he is dead — 
I am a Nihilist !” 

At the police-office it was soon ascertained 
that the woman, who called herself Marja 
Antonowna Plevanko, and professed to be a 
Nihilist, was raving mad. A deposition was 
taken and the poor victim was the-same night 
sent to an insane asylum. 

While these events were occurring, the Prin- 
cess Anna Michaelowna was sitting in her grand- 
mother’s boudoir, at the window, waiting for her 
betrothed. She was alone ; her head was rest- 
ing on her left hand, and her eyes looked out 
dreamily into the wintry night. Eleven o’clock 
— twelve o’clock ! And he came not ! She could 
not master any longer the unrest that had pos- 
sessed her the whole evening; she started more 
than once, when her thoughts presented her of a 
sudden some specially frightful scene, and in her 
anxiety she was continually glancing, now at the 
door and then at the window. 

Was that the bell ringing downstairs? “ Yes, 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


347 


no doubt, for now the door of the vestibule 
opens and closes again, two, three times; she 
listens — she makes every effort to hear. Cer- 
tainly, people are talking downstairs! She must 
know! She' jumped up, flew down the long 
[)assage, descended the staircase, and there — ! 
There stood Ivan, Likin’s good, old, faithful ser- 
vant Ivan, pale and trembling, with dishevelled 
hair, his clothes all wet and muddy, wailing and 
groaning. Anna knew instantly what had hap- 
pened. A slight tremor passed through her 
whole frame and for an instant her heart ceased 
beating. Then she overcame her weakness and 
faced Ivan. When the old man suddenly saw 
her standing before him, he was terrified, his 
knees gave wa}^ Anna fixed her dark eyes 
upon the poor man’s wan face and said, as if 
knowing all: “A great misfortune has befallen 
all of us ! Ivan Gregory Petrowitch is — ” 

“ Is no more, my mistress 1” 

“ Is — dead !” Her voice sounded veiled, the 
long eyelashes sank slowly down over the un- 
fathomable eyes, both hands pressed the place 
where the heart used to beat, and then she stood, 
fixed rigidly, a mere statue. Suddenly she began 


348 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


to tremble violently. “ I must go to him !” she 
cried. “ My cloak, Sergij !” 

The janitor, all his life accustomed to obey, 
hung her cloak over her shoulders. ** At this hour 
and in this weather?” he ventured to remon- 
strate. “ And on foot, Highness!” 

Anna looked at him as if she did not under- 
stand what he could be saying, and left the 
house without a word in reply. 

It had ceased snowing, and although it was 
near midnight, here and there men were at work 
clearing the sidewalks. At first Anna walked on 
in silence, clinging closely to Ivan; now, of a 
sudden, she asked : “ Where is your master?” 

“In his rooms. We have put him on a bed 
there. Lieutenant Dowski, wlio showed some 
signs of life, has been carried to the hospital. 
The physicians hope he will not die. But my 
poor, dear Colonel ! He is dead ! dead I Twenty 
revolver-balls at the least in his body ! The 
rascals wounded him first from behind, and then 
they murdered him.” 

The old man’s tears began to flow anew, and 
he described very accurately and minutely how 
the room looked in which Likin had been found, 
and what a desperate combat must have taken 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


349 


place. “ He must have knocked down at least 
half a dozen of the blackguards, before he suc- 
cumbed to such superior numbers !” 

“ Yes !” Anna murmured low, “ he was a hero 
— my hero !’' 

At last they reached the house in the Tontan- 
ka. Anna Michaelowna went directly to the 
room in which Likin’s body was lying on 
his bed. As the princess entered, the gendarmes 
on duty rose, saluted her reverently, and then 
silently withdrew into an adjoining room. Anna 
whispered to Ivan that she wanted to be alone, 
and he silently went out. Then she drew near to 
him. There he was, lying, now lifeless, with 
closed eyes and firmly compressed lips — he who 
a few hours ago had stood before her full of 
strength and life ! 

Anna’s heart was near breaking with wild woe, 
but her eyes found no tears to give them relief. 
She bent over him and kissed his cold, pale 
lips. As she did this, her hand touched some- 
thing hard in the breast-pocket of his coat. 
Mechanically she put her hand into it and drew 
out a beautiful poignard, inlaid with silver. Her 
eyes suddenly flashed with a gruesome light ; she 
drew herself up to her full height, put her left 


350 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


hand on Likin’s heart, and said: 1 promised to 
go with yon, my Gregory! .You could not 
come to me because these miscreants mur- 
dered you, oh, my eagle — well, then — I come to 
you ! Our souls cannot be divided !” 

She firmly seized the poignard with her right 
hand, and without a moment’s hesitation thrust 
it into her heart. Her eyes shone brightly with 
triumph and freedom ; then the light broke, and 
with a gentle sigh she sank, dead, down upon the 
lifeless body of her beloved I 


CHAPTER XIX. 

The Court had abandoned Gatschina at New 
Year and settled down in the Anitchkoff Palace, 
and here, in the vast Audience Hall, was stand- 
ing the Princess Natalie Borissowna and' her 
lovely grand-daughter Plena. Both ladies were 
in deep mourning. Plena looking pale and dis- 
tressed, while the gray-haired old lady bore her- 
self as ever, full of courage and dignitv ; only a 
bitter line at the corners of. the mouth betrayed 
the deep sorrow that the last days had brought 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


351 


upon her. On the contrary, it almost looked as 
as if the princess looked prouder to-day than was 
usual with her high-bred, thoroughly kindly char- 
acter. She had suffered much, when she found 
herself a humble petitioner here, where for so 
many years everybody had worshipped her. But 
what would she not have diDne for her sorely- 
tried daughter Sonia! She was here to restore 
to her the one child left to her now, and with 
such an aim before her, she hesitated not — not for 
an instant ! 

The folding-doors, which led into the Czar’s 
private cabinet, were opened, and his Adjutant- 
General, Count Woronzow, appeared, inviting 
the ladies, with a courteous bow, to draw nearer. 
A few moments’ later the two ladies were facing 
Alexander I II., who returned their salutations by 
a short nod of his head. 

“You wish to present a petition. Princess?” he 
asked, and advanced a few steps towards the 
older lady. 

“At my age. Sire,” said the latter seriously, 
and looking frankly and openly into the Auto- 
crat’s face, “ we have no longer any wishes or 
hopes of our own. My fate has been to bury 
those who were dear to me, and to await from 
God’s mercy, what life has denied me. This 


352 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


child here is the one who hopes Your Majesty 
will deign to grant her indulgence and justice 
combined.*’ 

She wound her arms around Plena's neck, and 
softly drew her to her heart. The Emperor 
frowned, and asked coolly: “ Who is the child?” 

“ My great-niece, Plena Arsenjewna, the daugh- 
ter of General Wolkow, who, in Your Majesty’s 
service, lost an arm before Sebastopol.” 

“ I have heard of the general. He was a brave 
soldier. What do you wish, my child ?” 

Plena withdrew softly from the old lady’s 
arms and fearlessly approached the Monarch. 
Blushes and pallid changes animated her cheeks; 
she knelt down before the Emperor imploringly, 
and said: ‘‘I pray Your Majesty will give me 
back my betrothed ; he is innocent, although 
they have arrested and imprisoned him. Appear- 
ances are against him, but he is innocent, as 
truly as I am a good Christian.’’ 

The Emperor grew impatient. “ Rise,” he 
said ; “ tell me first of all who your betrothed 
is!” 

Plena rose. The old lady did not allow her 
to answer ; she said : “ My grandson. Prince 

Peter Michaelowitch !” 

“ Ah I Prince Peter, who is strongly suspected 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


353 


of being involved in revolutionary plots ? And 
he is your grandson, Princess ? His case looks 
bad ; the reports are very contradictory. 
Gregory Petrowitch has done his best for him, 
but I do not like to interfere in the regular 
course of investigation.” 

“ Gregory Petrowitch was his friend, and 
betrothed to his sister,” said the old princess in 
a low, unsteady voice : “ Now that these two, 
who were the joy of my old age, are dead, Peter 
Michaelowitch is the only being in whom centre 
all the hopes of our family; I pray Your 
Majesty will consider this.” 

The Emperor looked thoughtful, but not dis- 
pleased. 

Now Plena summoned all her courage to 
make a last effort and began timidl}^ : “ Prince 

Peter is innocent. Sire, I repeat it. If any one 
is to blame, I am the one! 1, quite alone!” 

“ You ?” said the Czar, and smiled incredulous. 

“Yes, Sire, I. Peter was always a very dear, 
good boy, but thoughtless and rather frivolous. I 
undertook to improve him. He once offered me 
his hand ; but I refused him and demanded that 
he should first make a real man of himself and 
secure some renown in the world, before he 


354 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


should dare renew his courtship. I, foolish girl, 
told him to go out into the world, and join the 
Nihilitsas far as I was concerned ! This is what 
I foolishly said to him, and the poor boy took it 
literally. 1 drove him from his father’s house, 
from his home. I was the cause that he went 
to the University, and I am to be blamed if he 
imprudently sought an adventure, so that he is 
now accused ^of vile views, and deeds such as 
never entered his soul. If any one deserves 
punishment, it is I ; and I beseech Your Majesty 
to send me to jail instead of Peter.” 

Plena had entirely forgotten where she was, 
and spoke so eagerly that her face was covered 
with blushes. 

The Czar was evidentl)' amused by her naivetiy 
and asked kindly : “ You like him very much 

— this Peter, my child ? 

Plena now blushed crimson, but she replied 
valiantly : 

“ I love him with all my heart. Not that he 
deserves it, the stubborn boy ! He swore he 
would not return till I went down on my knees 
to ask him, and he has adhered to his oath with 
a pertinacity which 1 hardly understand. I 
pray Your Majesty will help m-e. If you give 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


355 


him his liberty, I will fetch him myself from his 
prison, and then I am sure I shall no*t be 
expected any more to kneel before him. Then 
he belongs to me, and I swear. Sire, he shall not 
again make a fool of himself !” 

Now the Czar laughed aloud. Then he walked 
up to Plena, who was dumbfounded by his sud- 
den hilarity, and putting his hand upon her 
lovely, golden hair, he said: “You shall have 
him, my child, and if Prince Peter Michaelow is 
only half as fresh and natural as you are. Plena 
Arsenjewna, he cannot be very dangerous to the 
State. And, besides, I owe it to my faithful, 
brave Likin, to grant his last prayer. He went 
himself security for Prince Peter, and declared 
that his arrest was a blunder. Your betrothed is 
free ; you may go and fetch him, as you call it, 
my child, this afternoon.” 

Plena seized the Emperor’s hand and kissed it. 
“ You see, grandmamma, I always said the Em- 
peror would give him to me !” 

The Princess Natalie Borissowna had followed 
the scene between the Czar and Plena with alter- 
nate fear and hope. Now she also advanced and 
said warmly : “ Your Majesty has rejoiced my 
old heart and given a distressed mother her only 


356 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


son back again. I thank your Majesty with my 
whole heart !” 

The Emperor, who had let go Elena’s hand, 
nodded contentedly. Then he dismissed the 
two ladies by a slight bow, and they left his 
presence. 

In the Audience Chamber the old lady seized 
Elena’s head with both hands ; she looked ten- 
derly into her eyes, shining brightly with tears 
of joy, and kissed her forehead. “ Preserve 
your child-like heart, Elenushka,” she whispered, 
deeply moved ; “the purity of the soul is the 
one power on earth that never succumbs.” 

A few hours’ later, in the room which Prince 
Peter had inhabited two long months, Elena was 
lying on his breast. He held her firmly em- 
braced and rays of perfect bliss beautified his 
sober features. “ I knew you would come, 
Elenushka,” he said, “ but you have kept' me 
waiting long, very long !” 

“ And you, wicked man, have made it difficult 
enough for me to fetch you away from here ! If 
the Emperor had not after all judged rightly, 
who knows what else might have happened ! If 
I think it over, we might have been as happy 
four years ago, as we now are. 1 might have 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


357 


seen how inevitable it was, that yoj^ should be- 
come my husband !” 

Peter shook his head. “ I do not think so. 
The trials I have gone through, the discipline I 
have learned to appreciate, have taught me 
much. Likin told me once that his motto was: 
Aut CcBsar aut nihiL That is a proud, presump- 
tuous saying, and I have often trembled as I an- 
ticipated that it would bring him nothing but 
ruin. Truth knows no heights and no depths ; 
its pure light shows only straight, level ways of 
life, and happy is the man who walks on them, 
not led astray by the allurements of the world. 
And that I have found this out and mean to live 
accordingly, I owe first and foremost to you, 
my beloved !” 

He kissed her lovingly and they left the . 
prison, arm in arm, escorted by an officer of 
gendarmes. 

As the lovers sat that evening late in the old 
princess’ apartments, joyfully chatting, Peter of 
a sudden began : “ If I reflect carefully, 

Flenushka, I think I also worship, like our poor, 
unfortunate Likin, the motto: Aut Ccesar aut 
nihil r' 

“What? You do?” cried Plena, distressed. 


358 


ALL OR NOTHING. 


“Yes!” replied the young prince smiling, 
“ but only in love! ^ A// or Nothing' is what I 
say.” He laughed exultingly and tried to find 
her hand under the shawl in which she was 
wrapped. 

She yielded him her right hand, and a hearty 
pressure of her dainty little fingers told him 
that she had no objection to this interpretation 
of the Latin proverb. 


THE END. 



A. Story of a Strange Disappearance. 


WAS SHE WIFE OR WIDOW? 


BY 

MALCOLM BELL. 


BTra JLLVSTKA.I10SS BY F. A. O ABIES. 


l2mo. 818 Faeres. Handsomely Bound in Oloth. Price, $1.00 
Paper Cover, 60 Cents. 


It is a most excellent novel, provoking curiosity to the utmost 
and holding the interest at the highest to the end. We never 
read anything quite like it before. “ Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde ” 
is not more strange and not more interesting. To enter into the 
plot of the story would not give a correct and adequate i(^ea of 
the author’s conception and the admirable manner in which it is 
worked out. It is as good as one of Gaboriau’s detective stories. 

For sale by all booksellers and newsdealers, or sent, post- 
paid, on receipt of price, by the publishers, 

ROBERT BONNER’S SONS, 

Cor. William and Spruce Streets, New York. 


A Fine English Novel. 


REUBEN FOREMAN, 

The Village Blacksmith. 

% Nooel. 

BY 

DARLEY DALE, 

Author of Fair Katharine f etc., etc, 

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY WARREN B. DAVIS. 

12mo. Handsomely Bound in Cloth. Price, $1.00. Paper 
Cover, 60 Cents. 


All admirers of Jane Austen’s painstaking and truthful studies 
of English life, replete with fine touches of character, description 
and humor, will read the story of The Village Blacksmith” 
with unmixed pleasure. The portraits of the Rev. Ryot-Tempest 
and the widow, Mrs. Jamieson, are so well done that they move 
through the work like living persons. The characters of Reuben 
and his daughter are also exceedingly successful, and the story in 
which they play such important parts is so well kept together and 
s worked out, that our interest in them is real and our desire for 
their vindication and happiness is passionate. This novel is very 
ably written and very original in its types of character and in the 
treatment of religious and moral questions and feelings which 
give strength and intensity to such works as “ Robert Elsrnere ” 
and “ David Grieve.” It is far above the average English novel 
in interest. 

For sale by all booksellers and newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, 
on receipt of price, by the publishers, 

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A Thrilling Novel. 


THE HAUNTED HUSBAND. 


BY 

MRS. -HARRIET LEWIS, 

Author of Neva’s Three Lovers f Her Double Life,'* 

^Beatrix Rohan f Lady Kildare f etc. 


WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY VICTOR PERARD. 


12mo. 893 Pagres. Handsomely Bound in Cloth. Price, $1.00. 
Paper Cover, 50 Cents. 


In ‘‘The Haunted Husband” Mrs. Lewis deals with some of 
the most interesting phases of human experience. It is not in the 
power of men or women to escape the consequences of their acts, 
for if those consequences are not always visible and material, it is 
all the morp certain that the spirit suffers ; and whether one is 
haunted by visions or by remorse, or the body suffers from pov- 
erty and hunger, the penalties of our acts are equally hard to 
bear. It is Mrs. Lewis’s strong hold upon this primary fact of 
human life that enables her to realize the characters and carry to 
their conclusion the relations, situations and circumstances which 
her story involves. All who have read “.Her Double Life” should 
read “The Haunted Husband.” 

For sale by all booksellers and newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, 
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A BRILLIANT NOVEL. 


ROMANCE OF TROUVILLE 

51 Noocl. 


TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF 

BREHAT, 

BY 

META DE VERE', 

Translator of “ Mademoiselle Desroches,” etc. 
WITS ILLUSTRATIONS BY WECHSLER. 


12mo. 329 Pagres. Handsomely Bound in Cloth. Price, $1.00, 
Paper Cover, 50 Cents. 


This is a characteristic story of life in a brilliant French water- 
ing-place. It gives an admirable picture of the amusements, the 
frivolities, the intrigues, rivalries and jealousies of the fashionable 
people gathered there from all parts of the world. 'It is full of 
life, color and excitement. In stories of this kind French writers 
are without rivals in England or America. The hero of the story 
is a dashing French officer belonging to the old aristocracy of 
France. The heroine is a beautiful girl of French and English 
parentage. The course of the story develops situations both sur- 
prising and amusing. The movement is brisk and the incidents 
natural and vivacious. The interest never halts, and the story is 
entirely pure and delightful from beginning to end. 

For sale by all booksellers and newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, 
on receipt of price, by the publishers, 

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THE IMPROVISATORE ; 

V OR, 

LIFE IN ITALY. 

TRANSLATED FROM THE DANISH OF • 

Hans Christian Andersen. 

By MARY HOWITT. 

tLLVSTBATED BY BABBY O. EDWABBS, 


12ma Bound in Cloth, $1.00. Paper Cover, 60 Cents. 


This is an entrancing romance dealing with the classic scenes 
of Italy. To those who desire to behold with their own eyes 
those scenes, it will create a fresh spring of sentiment, and fill 
them with unspeakable longing. To those who have visited the 
fair and memory-haunted towers and towns of Florence, Rome 
and Naples, it will revive their enthusiasm and refresh their 
knowledge. Andersen published this novel immediately after 
his return from Italy, and it created an extraordinary effect. 
Those who had depreciated the author’s talent came forward 
voluntarily and offered him their homage. It is a work of such 
singular originality and beauty that no analysis or description 
could do it justice, and the universal admiration which it at once 
excited has caused it to be read and reread throughout the world. 

For sale by all booksellers and newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, 
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ROBERT BONNER’S SONS, 

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A REMARKABLE NOVEL. 


ZINA’S AWAKING 

BY MRS. J. KENT SPENDER, 

Author of “ Till Death Us do Partf ^^Gabrielle de Bourdainef 
Mr. Nobody f etc. 

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY WARREN B. BAVIS. 

12mo. Handsomely Bound in Cloth. Price, $1.00. Paper Cover, 

50 Cents. 


SOME OPINIONS OF THE ENGLISH PRESS: 

Liverpool Mercury. — “ In this noble story, Mrs. Spender takes 
her place in the front rank of living English novelists. Apart 
from the style, which is clear and beautiful, there is throughout 
the whole work a play of such intense sympathy with all that is 
noble in manhood and womanhood, and at the same time such a 
manifestation of self-conscious strength, that the conviction is 
irresistible that in this writer we have an author whose name will 
some day b^ a household word.” 

London Guardian. — “ Has undoubted merits of its own in the 
way of freshness and originality, and an unusual depth of thought 
and earnestness of purpose.” 

London Spectator. — “ Mrs. Spender is not a mere manufacturer 
of fiction for the libraries ; she is an artist with a fine feeling for 
artistic ends, and a true instinct for the means by which they are 
to be attained.” 

London Standard. — “Mrs. Spender is well apace with the 
thoughts and reflections that bewilder the ‘ advanced ’ young 
women of our day, and she writes with restraint and perception.” 

Scottish Leader. — “ Mrs. Spender can always be relied on to 
make her stories interesting. . . . ^ Zina’s Awaking ’ is an 

eminently readable novel.” 

Freeman's Journal. — “A literary work of art. . . . Un- 

doubtedly able and well written.” 

For sale by all booksellers and newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, 
on receipt of price, by the publishers, 

ROBERT BONNER’S SONS, 

Cor. William and Spruce Streets, New York. 


LITTLE HEATHER-BLOSSOM 


(ERICA.) 


TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF 

FRAU V.ON INGERSLEBEN, 

BY 

MARY J. SAFFORD. 


WITH ILLUSTBATJONS BY WABREN B. DAVIS. 


12mo. 470 Fag-es. Handsomely Botind in Cloth. Price, $1.00. 
Paper Cover, 50 Cents. 


This novel is one of the most interesting that has been pub- 
lished in this country, taken from the German. It has more 
variety of character and scenery than is usual in German novels. 
All admirers of Marlitt will find it a novel to their taste. Miss 
Satford, the translator, who w^s the first to discover the merit of 
Werner and Heimburg, is very partial to it. Among its salient 
points are a wreck, a runaway, life in a castle on the Rhine, with 
its terraces sloping to the river, balls, entertainments and exqui- 
site character sketches. The heroine is one of the loveliest 
creations of fiction. 

For sale by all booksellers and newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, 
on receipt of price, by the publishers, 

ROBERT BONNER’S SONS, 

Cor. WILLIA^r and Spruce Streets, New York. 


Heimburg’s New Novel. 


MISS MISCHIEF. 

(MAMSELL UNNUTZ.) 

BY 

W. HEIMBURG.^ 

Translated from the German by Mary Stuart Smith, 

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY WARREN B. DA VIS. 

12ino. 360 Pagres. Handsomely Bound in Cloth. Price, $1.60. - 
Paper Cover, 60 Cents. 


Heimburg’s new novel is one of the most interesting books that 
have come from her pen. It is the story of a young girl brought 
from Italy to Germany and reared amid scenes and circumstances 
uncongenial to her nature. Unappreciated and misunderstood, 
it is not strange that her acts are misinterpreted and that she gets 
the reputation of being a good-for-nothing and mischievous child; 
but so interesting is her character and so skillfully are her fine 
traits developed by the author that the reader is surprised by the 
vision of beauty and truth and heroism which, as the story pro- 
ceeds, dawns upon the mind. “ Miss Mischief” becomes a noble 
woman, and by her self-sacrifice, patience and energy repays a 
hundred-fold all the protection and assistance which have been 
grudgingly given to her during her childhood. The story is a 
charming one, the characters are interesting, and the incidents 
natural ; and the book is laid down with a feeling of entire satis- 
faction and admiration for the author. 

For sale by all booksellers and newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, 
on receipt of price, by the publishers, 

ROBERT BONNER’S SONS, 

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A Timely Novel. 


THE SPANISH TREASURE. 


BY 

ELIZABETH CAMPBELL WINTER 

(ISABELLA CASTELAR). 


WITE. ILLUSTRATIONS BY H. M. EATON. 


12mo. . Handsomely Bound in Cloth. Price, $1.00. Paper 
Cover, 60 Cents. 


Elizabeth Campbell Winter (wife of William Winter), writing 
under the fictitious name of “ Isabella Castelar,” is the author of 
‘‘ The Spanish Treasure,” the most important original work of 
fiction that has been called forth by the great Columbian festival. 
It is deeply interesting in plot ; it is abundantly supplied with in- 
cidents ; its characters are vigorously drawn and evenly and brill- 
iantly sustained ; and it is written with remarkable lucidity and 
crisp precision of style. Those portions of the novel descriptive 
of the arrival of the ships of Columbus, and of the adventures of 
one of his mariners among the Indians of the golden isles, ex- 
hibit rare historic learning, and show the power of imagination in 
a most unusual degree. It is a story which, for invention, feeling, 
taste and beauty of language, is equal to the best novels of the day. 

For sale by all booksellers and newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, 
on receipt of price, by the publishers, 

ROBERT BONNER’S SONS, 

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